Apnea is a pause in breathing, and can be accompanied by bradycardia, which is an abnormal slowing of the heart. The apnea monitor will alert you when this happens to your baby. The alarm on the monitor will sound and by merely stimulating the baby, breathing and heart rate will return to normal.

The average time for most babies to be monitored is six months, however your baby may need more or less time.

Definitions

Apnea -- Lack of breathing.
Bradycardia -- Decrease in heart rate.
Tachycardia -- Increase in heart rate.
Cyanosis -- Bluish color in lips and/or fingernail beds.
CPR -- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.
Monitor -- Small portable device, which senses the child's breathing and heart rate.
Electrodes -- Small patches that rest against your child's chest and send signals of the child's breathing and heart activity.
Lead wires -- Small wires that carry the signals to the patient cable.
Patient Cable Lead -- A heave duty cable that connects to the monitor with wires.
Pneumocardiogram -- A recording of respirations and heart rate during sleep for a specific period of time.