I need information on what can help regulate an infant's breathing?

Question

My friend just had a baby by C-section, and has had a few episodes where he stops breathing, I know that skin to skin contact helps, I read about it somewhere, but cannot find what I'm looking for now. Please, if anyone can direct me to information that I can print and take with me, so she can read it herself, it would help.

My friend is already in the hospital, she was when I posted the question.

Answer 1

I don't know all the circumstances about the baby, but one thing that can be used by doctors in caffeine treatments. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant and can help babies "remember" to breathe. Here are some article links for more on this type of treatment.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/07/040721090311.htm
http://fdb.rxlist.com/drugs/drug-144281-caffeine+citrated+iv.aspx?drugid=144281&drugname=caffeine+citrated+iv
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/409559_print

Answer 2

This is something that should be addressed by a pediatric pulmonary specialist. This child needs to be placed on an apnea monitor 24-7!! There are some babies which reflux and cause apnea episodes... the website for that is www.infantrefluxdisease.com



by the way there is no cpap machine for a baby..

Answer 3

I'm assuming your friend has already seen the doctor, what kind of mother wouldn't ??? In addition to kangaroo care, I would suggest co-sleeping. Not only does it help regulate newborns' breathing, this way mom could also be right there in case the baby truly stops breathing and needs mouth to mouth. I'm keeping your friend in my prayers.

Answer 4

Babies delivered thru c-section have some problems with breathing because the fluid from their lungs were not squeezed out unlike those babies who went out thru the birth canal.You can temporarily give the baby supplemental oxygen,let her cry, provide warmth and suction secretions as needed.

Answer 5

Kangaroo Care:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15182119&dopt=Citation
"PURPOSE: To determine the safety and effects on healthy preterm infants of three continuous hours of kangaroo care (KC) compared to standard NICU care by measuring cardiorespiratory and thermal responses. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial-pretest-test-posttest control group design. SAMPLE: Twenty-four healthy preterm infants (33-35 weeks gestation at birth) nearing discharge. Eleven of the infants received KC; 13 received standard NICU care. MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLES: Heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and abdominal skin temperature were manually recorded every minute. Apnea, bradycardia, periodic breathing, and regular breathing were captured continuously on a pneumocardiogram printout. Three consecutive interfeeding intervals (three hours each) on one day constituted the pretest, test, and posttest periods. RESULTS: Mean cardiorespiratory and temperature outcomes remained within clinically acceptable ranges during KC. Apnea, bradycardia, and periodic breathing were absent during KC. Regular breathing increased for infants receiving KC compared to infants receiving standard NICU care."

http://www.kangaroomothercare.com/research.htm
Oxygenation has been shown to be improved on SSC, to the extent that KMC is used successfully to treat respiratory distress. The breathing becomes regular and stable, and is coordinated with heart rate. When removed from incubator and placed SSC, oxygen saturation may rise slightly, or the percentage of oxygen provided to maintain good saturation can be lowered.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kangaroo_care
"Researchers have found that the close physical contact with the parent can help to stabilize the preterm infant's heartbeat, temperature, and breathing."

http://www.lalecheleague.org/llleaderweb/LV/LVOctNov01p106.html
We saw a live demonstration of how babies are worn by "kangarooing" mothers in Cape Town. The baby, wearing only a diaper, is literally tied onto the mother's bare chest with a strip of cloth that is positioned underneath the baby's ear. This extends the baby's head and neck and prevents obstructive apnea. The mother than wears a special shirt that wraps around and under the baby's bottom to induce flexion, as in utero. The baby is tied tightly enough so that when the mother breathes, she pushes against the baby's chest and stimulates his breathing. Inside the mother's shirt, the baby is in a carbon dioxide-rich environment, which also stimulates breathing. The strip is relaxed every two hours and the baby is fed via breast or whatever means is necessary. For premature babies, this type of kangaroo care is done around the clock. Mothers of premature babies are also encouraged to sleep at a 30 degree angle; this aids breathing and vestibular function.

http://www.marchofdimes.com/prematurity/21295_6090.asp
You may be a little nervous about trying kangaroo care. If your baby is very small or sick, you may be afraid you’ll hurt him. But you won’t. Your baby knows your scent, touch and the rhythms of your speech and breathing, and he will enjoy feeling that closeness with you. Kangaroo care can help your baby:

* Maintain his body warmth
* Regulate his heart and breathing rates
* Gain weight
* Spend more time in deep sleep
* Spend more time being quiet and alert and less time crying
* Have a better chance of successful breastfeeding (kangaroo care can improve the mother's breastmilk production)

http://www.breastfeeding.com/all_about/all_about_kangaroo.html
"Why is it used?
Kangaroo care is often used with premature babies because the close contact with the parent can stabilize the baby's heartbeat, temperature and breathing. Premature babies have a hard time coordinating their breathing and heart rates (often called coupling). As the baby's heart rate increases, there could be an increase of apnea, which is a temporary loss of breathing. Studies have shown and many medical professionals agree that kangaroo care can help the baby better coordinate its breathing and heart rate. "

Answer 6

it is not normal for a baby to stop breathing! your friend needs to get her baby to the dr now!!! his breathing problam may endup being nothing but it could also kill him! in the least get an apnea monitor!

Answer 7

If her child stops breathing.. it needs a lot more then skin to skin contact. It needs a CPAP and nothing less.

Answer 8

Seeking professional help is always the best choice.

Answer 9

She should really talk to her pediatrician

Answer 10

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