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The detecting device is placed either on the baby's abdomen or under the bedclothing. It detects each time the baby takes a breath. If the baby fails to breathe for a specified time, usually
about 20 seconds, an alarm sounds. Most often the alarm goes off because the sensor has become loose, i.e., lost contact. In most cases the baby is fine. If the baby has indeed stopped breathing, then mouth
to mouth resuscitation and, where appropriate, cardiac massage may be attempted to try to revive the child.
WHO NEEDS A MONITOR?
There are some situations in which a monitor is necessary. Some
babies regularly suffer sleeping problems called sleep apnoea. That is, for some reasons these babies just stop breathing on a regular basis.
Some very premature babies suffer apnoea that is related to
the immaturity of their lungs at birth. Sometimes such babies continue to have some such attacks once they leave hospital. In these cases and other more unusual cases, the use of a monitor is likely to be
recommended by the medical staff who have cared for the baby.
There are other groups for whom the use of an apnoea monitor is optional. In these cases, parents decide whether or not they will use a
monitor. Often parents who have experienced a previous SIDS death (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome also known as Cot death) will decide to monitor a new baby.
Parents generally choose to use a monitor for
psychological rather than medical reasons. This is because there is NO EVIDENCE that using a monitor will prevent another SIDS death. |
