Neonatal bradycardia refers to a condition where newborn babies have a heart rhythm that is slower than normal. In babies, bradycardia refers to any time the heart rate is less than 100 beats per minute. While neonatal bradycardia can happen to all infants, it is most common in babies that are born prematurely. It is also commonly found in babies that also suffer from a form of apnoea, which is when their breathing stops intermittently.
Because neonatal bradycardia results in a slower rate of blood flowing to the brain, it can have negative short and long-term effects. Therefore, it is important to have neonatal bradycardia diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. Here are some of the treatment options for babies with neonatal bradycardia.
While neonatal bradycardia is always something that you should be aware of and address as quickly as possible, it is not always serious. Therefore, in situations where your baby’s neonatal bradycardia is minor, you may be able to treat it simply with hands-on stimulation. Here are several examples of hands-on neonatal bradycardia stimulation.
If the baby does not quickly respond to these forms of stimulation, you may need more advanced treatments.
If hands-on stimulation does not provide quick relief, your doctor will likely recommend medications to treat neonatal bradycardia. Here are some of the most common medications your doctor might recommend.
While it might seem counter-intuitive to give caffeine to a newborn, this is actually a very common option. Caffeine is very low-risk and can stimulate a baby’s respiratory system and speed up their heart rate. It is sometimes enough to remedy the problem, and your baby may not require more intensive treatments.
As with caffeine, theophylline stimulates the central nervous system and speeds up your baby’s heart rate. Theophylline is commonly used in adults and children to treat asthma. In addition to stimulating the central nervous system, theophylline also relaxes the muscles in your baby’s lungs and airways and makes it easier to breathe.
Very similar to theophylline, aminophylline is a bronchodilator that stimulates the central nervous system and relaxes the muscles in your baby’s lungs and airways. This dual effect makes it easier for your baby to breathe and speeds up their heart rate.
If medications are not a good option for your newborn or they are not doing the trick, they may need a CPAP machine. As with adults, CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure and refers to a machine that helps your baby breathe easier. CPAP machines are commonly used by adults who have sleep apnoea, and they work by forcing oxygen into your baby’s lungs through their nose and mouth.
In serious situations where your baby’s neonatal bradycardia is life-threatening, and your baby needs oxygen to survive, they will need a mechanical ventilator. Mechanical ventilators force oxygen into your baby’s lungs and help them breathe. This is meant only as a life-saving treatment and is not intended to be used long-term or any more than necessary.
In most cases, neonatal bradycardia is fairly minor and only happens once or on rare occasions. In these instances, you can typically get by with hands-on stimulation to keep your baby breathing. However, if the problem persists or becomes severe, your baby will need medications, a CPAP machine, or mechanical ventilation. Therefore, it is important to know if your newborn has bradycardia so that you can seek the proper treatment.