Frequently, the babies' response to stimuli that should remind them to breathe is blunted because of their immature brains, Block said. Apnea, failure to breathe, is the result. When the oxygen levels in their blood begins to drop, their heart rates drop, too. Monitors attached to the babies alert medical personnel when those episodes occur. Stimulating babies by patting them or rubbing their backs usually gets them breathing again.
Doctors treat apnea with caffeine and other medicines.
The average premature baby goes home 35 weeks after conception, he said. Doctors decide to send them home when they reach a stage of good health. Once, premature babies stayed in the hospital until they weighed 5 pounds. Use of this Web site is subject to certain Terms and Conditions . We may collect personal information on this site, as described in our Privacy Policy .