Help your baby maintain a proper breathing pattern if necessary.
A common condition afflicting babies born prior to 35 weeks gestation, apnea of prematurity, or AOP, involves a baby's immature central nervous system failing to control breathing during sleep. In simple terms, a tiny and premature baby may forget to breathe during deep sleep. A physician usually diagnoses this condition in the hospital prior to discharge and a baby may go home with an apnea monitor to signal the baby's distress. Often, just simply patting a baby's back will be enough to stimulate breathing again.
Instructions
1. Check the baby for signs of distress. See if the baby is breathing and survey the baby's color. If you see pale or dusky skin -- or if the baby is not breathing -- you must stimulate the baby to breathe.
2. Flick your fingers against the bottom of the baby's feet or rub the baby's chest lightly with your hand to get the baby to resume breathing.
3. Pick the baby up in your arms. Pat and rub the baby's back lightly with your hands to stimulate breathing.
4. Begin infant CPR and call 911 immediately if these efforts do not stimulate the baby to begin breathing again.
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