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Is An Occasional Low Heart Rate Normal For A Premature Infant?

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Posted on Tue, 8 May 2012
Question: My preemie is on a vary monitor. The range is set for 80-220. It has gone off occasionally withnlow heart rate. Normal ?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sapan J. Pandya (28 minutes later)
Hi XXXXXXX

Your premature infant is put on a Continuous cardio-respiratory monitoring (monitoring of breathing and heart rate) in a Neonatal ICU. The monitor normally has heart rate of the infant set between 80-220. Above or below these ranges there will be an alarm.

Yes, normally there will a few episodes of low heart rate. Do not worry as the Neonatal ICU staff is very competent in dealing with such decreases.

Few Questions of importance:
1. How premature is your child? That is at what age did the child got delivered?
2. What was the birth weight?
3. Any signs of Jaundice?
4. What is the Oxygen saturation?
5. Did the child cry immediately or was there a delayed cry?


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sapan J. Pandya (29 minutes later)
She is home on a portable

1 33.5 weeks with 2 rounds of steroid shots
2. 4 lbs 5 oz

3. Had slight jaundice in hospital


4. Never happened in hospital. O2 was always great


5. Doesn't cry. Just wakes up from alarm. Looks fine
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sapan J. Pandya (20 minutes later)
Dear XXXXXXX
You are a very caring father.
But the fact is your child is very healthy nearly a normal infant.
(1) 33.5 weeks maturity with two shots of steroids will induce enough lung maturity.
(2) Also weight is also adequate.
(3) Mild physiological jaundice occurs in almost all infants.
(4) Good Oxygen saturation is good news.
(5) What I was asking was crying immediately after birth. Did the infant cry immediately at birth?
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sapan J. Pandya (1 hour later)
Came out crying right away. No need for o2

Just concerned why this monitor goes off and she looks fine.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sapan J. Pandya (5 hours later)
Hi XXXXXXX

You need not worry. Your child is fast running towards good health.
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Sapan J. Pandya

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2011

Answered : 243 Questions

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Is An Occasional Low Heart Rate Normal For A Premature Infant?

Hi XXXXXXX

Your premature infant is put on a Continuous cardio-respiratory monitoring (monitoring of breathing and heart rate) in a Neonatal ICU. The monitor normally has heart rate of the infant set between 80-220. Above or below these ranges there will be an alarm.

Yes, normally there will a few episodes of low heart rate. Do not worry as the Neonatal ICU staff is very competent in dealing with such decreases.

Few Questions of importance:
1. How premature is your child? That is at what age did the child got delivered?
2. What was the birth weight?
3. Any signs of Jaundice?
4. What is the Oxygen saturation?
5. Did the child cry immediately or was there a delayed cry?