Infant Sleep Apnea...... What Do We Really Know About It??

[the-geezer]

Got a real good close friend who had a premature baby. Since he has been born, she has 'lost' him several times to sleep apnea.

Luckily she was trained by the maternity staff at the hospital on how to revive/resuscitate her baby.

But what/why is 'sleep apnea'? Do babies just grow out of it as some doctors say, are there any remedies, preventions, cures, what can be done???

[duck_a_lorange]

Sleep apnoea is where the back of the throat is weak and closes while you sleep and you stop breathing. 

With adults there is loud snoring which suddenly stops - until the person nearly wakes up and starts breathing again.  This happens hundreds of times a night, and people who have it keep falling asleep during the day.  It also makes your heart race (try holding your breath), and sends blood pressure sky high.  A very nasty condition - my mum had it before anybody knew much about it and it certainly shortened her life. It can be treated these days with an air pump to keep the throat open. 

I can see how it could kill a very young baby - though I can also see that as they grow stronger and bigger they can grow out of it.

[the-geezer]

I have actually witnessed this particular baby die right in front of me, I felt so useless, I had no idea what to do! Mum sits there, pinching his ear, hand on chest, calling his name...... then he snaps out of it..... then we can breath again.