Premature infants and those with certain health problems are at a higher risk for apnea. This condition causes a temporary pause in breathing or very shallow breathing. Apnea can lead to a slow heart rate (called bradycardia) and give your baby’s skin a bluish tint.
Neonatologists at Allegheny Health Network’s (AHN) Infant Apnea Program provide specialized care for babies diagnosed with apnea who need at-home oxygen or medical equipment to monitor breathing. This program is offered at West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh.
It can be unsettling to find out that your baby needs oxygen or a breathing monitor at home. Our specialists are here to help. At AHN’s Infant Apnea Program, your family benefits from:
Infant apnea most commonly affects premature infants placed on respirators or mechanical breathing machines in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Long-term use of a respirator and oxygen can damage lungs and cause bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a chronic lung condition that makes breathing difficult. Infants with severe GERD and seizures are also at greater risk for a
