What you can expect after being referred to the Apnea Program
We know your heart stops when your baby’s breathing stops, so we embrace families from the moment they are referred to the apnea program by their baby’s doctor.
Spot the signs of a problem through our apnea education program
Infant home monitoring:
Once it has been determined that your baby needs a monitor, we will teach you how to recognize signs of a problem through our apnea monitor education program. A nurse from the Apnea Program will contact you to schedule training. Training on home monitoring includes two parts: meeting with a therapist from the home monitor company and meeting with an Apnea Program nurse.
Meet with a home monitor medical company:
This portion of the class will be conducted by a home monitor medical equipment company representative and takes place in the hospital. The Apnea Program staff will arrange the class at a time convenient for the family. The session includes:
- Explaining the company’s services
- Demonstrating how the monitor operates
- Correcting common problems
- Fitting the monitor belt on the baby
Meet with the Apnea Program staff:
This portion of the class consists of explanation of the infant’s apnea diagnosis, informing the family of the home monitor plan, instructing in the skills needed to respond to monitor alarms and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Everyone who will be involved in the care of the baby, such as grandparents, baby-sitters, and extended family members, are invited and encouraged to attend. The Apnea Program staff will schedule this 2 to 3-hour class. This class includes:
- What to do when the monitor alarm sounds
- The difference between real and false alarms
- Troubleshooting false alarms
- Skills needed to respond to an infant who stops breathing (opportunity to practice on mannequins)
- Steps to take when a baby chokes
Taking your child home with an apnea monitor can be stressful and Children’s Minnesota is here to offer support. Once the baby is home, the Apnea Program will follow up with frequent phone calls and provide ongoing management of your baby’s apnea monitor.
Our team is with you every step of the way — even in the middle of the night. If you don’t know what to do when a monitor alarm rings or if you have a question, big or small, just call. Children’s Minnesota provides ongoing phone support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Learn about gastroesophageal reflux interventions
When your baby has a diagnosis of significant gastroesophageal reflux (GER), we will teach you interventions to improve GER symptoms.
- Positioning techniques
- Feeding interventions
- Skills needed to respond to an infant who stops breathing (opportunity to practice on mannequins)
- Steps to take when a baby chokes
The Apnea Program can be reached at:
Children’s—Minneapolis: 612-813-5831
Children’s—St. Paul: 651-220-6267