
Is An Occasional Low Heart Rate Normal For A Premature Infant?

Question: My preemie is on a vary monitor. The range is set for 80-220. It has gone off occasionally withnlow heart rate. Normal ?
Hi XXXXXXX
Your premature infant is put on a Continuous cardio-respiratory monitoring (monitoring of breathing and heart rate) in a Neonatal ICU. The monitor normally has heart rate of the infant set between 80-220. Above or below these ranges there will be an alarm.
Yes, normally there will a few episodes of low heart rate. Do not worry as the Neonatal ICU staff is very competent in dealing with such decreases.
Few Questions of importance:
1. How premature is your child? That is at what age did the child got delivered?
2. What was the birth weight?
3. Any signs of Jaundice?
4. What is the Oxygen saturation?
5. Did the child cry immediately or was there a delayed cry?
Your premature infant is put on a Continuous cardio-respiratory monitoring (monitoring of breathing and heart rate) in a Neonatal ICU. The monitor normally has heart rate of the infant set between 80-220. Above or below these ranges there will be an alarm.
Yes, normally there will a few episodes of low heart rate. Do not worry as the Neonatal ICU staff is very competent in dealing with such decreases.
Few Questions of importance:
1. How premature is your child? That is at what age did the child got delivered?
2. What was the birth weight?
3. Any signs of Jaundice?
4. What is the Oxygen saturation?
5. Did the child cry immediately or was there a delayed cry?
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar


Dear XXXXXXX
You are a very caring father.
But the fact is your child is very healthy nearly a normal infant.
(1) 33.5 weeks maturity with two shots of steroids will induce enough lung maturity.
(2) Also weight is also adequate.
(3) Mild physiological jaundice occurs in almost all infants.
(4) Good Oxygen saturation is good news.
(5) What I was asking was crying immediately after birth. Did the infant cry immediately at birth?
You are a very caring father.
But the fact is your child is very healthy nearly a normal infant.
(1) 33.5 weeks maturity with two shots of steroids will induce enough lung maturity.
(2) Also weight is also adequate.
(3) Mild physiological jaundice occurs in almost all infants.
(4) Good Oxygen saturation is good news.
(5) What I was asking was crying immediately after birth. Did the infant cry immediately at birth?
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar


Came out crying right away. No need for o2
Just concerned why this monitor goes off and she looks fine.
Just concerned why this monitor goes off and she looks fine.
Hi XXXXXXX
You need not worry. Your child is fast running towards good health.
You need not worry. Your child is fast running towards good health.
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

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