Compared to adults, the respiratory status of newborns requires close attention. If a newborn is found to have hypoxia during delivery, it is even more important to monitor the blood oxygen status closely after the baby is discharged from the hospital. That is to avoid severe hypoxia from occurring and affecting the normal development of the baby. So new parents are worried to check for their baby’s breath all night. Then the oxygen monitor for baby is bought by new parents at home to monitor the infant’s blood oxygen levels and heart rate and to sound alarms when detecting abnormalities.

Wellue has launched their innovative product BabyO2 S2 baby oxygen monitor to ease parents’ worries. In addition, Wellue health editors searched some frequent questions and answers for new parents encountered as follows, and we hope this can be helpful.

1. Manifestations of neonatal hypoxemia

The main manifestations of neonatal hypoxia are:

① Increased or decreased respiratory rate;

The criteria for increased respiratory rate are: in the condition of calm without oxygen, (less than 2 months of age) ≥ 60 breaths/min, (2 months of age – 12 months of age) ≥ 50 breaths/min.

② Over deep or shallow breathing: infants or newborns may show open-mouth breathing, moaning, grunting sound, nasal flaring, head bobbing;

③ Purple or gray lips and face;

④ Concave chest, etc.

 3. How do you perform a pulse oximetry measurement?

The pulse oximetry probe is wrapped in a wrap around the baby’s right hand or one foot. The probe is connected to a monitor that displays the oxygen levels, just like the Wellue BabyO2 S2 baby oxygen monitor. The Owlet smart sock doesn’t have a single monitor to screen because they use the phone APP. See more details about BabyO2 S2 VS Owlet Sock.

Just bundle the oxygen probe on the baby’s dorsal foot, this location is relatively rich in arterial blood flow. Because the newborn body movement will affect the oxygen measurement, you can use a strap to tie the probe data cable at the ankle to fix it, reducing the role of sensor shaking, and then to monitor the baby’s blood oxygen status for a long time. See multiple ways to wear baby oxygen monitor.

When the baby is calm and warm, it takes only a few minutes to obtain a reading. The number will take longer to obtain if the infant is crying, hypothermic and wet.

4. Why is the pulse oximetry method used to screen CHD (congenital heart disease)

Pulse oximetry can be used to determine the oxygen level in the blood and has been used to monitor the oxygen level in the blood of infants in special monitoring.

It can also indicate the infant’s cardiopulmonary function. Pulse oximetry can also help identify infants with severe congenital heart disease, infections and pneumonia. Infants with severe congenital heart disease, infections and pneumonia often have very low oxygen levels in their blood. If the newborn fails the screening test, the medical workers should use an echocardiogram to complete further diagnosis.

If the newborn fails the screening test, the provider should use an echocardiogram to complete further diagnosis.

 5. What is CHD

Congenital heart disease is a problem with the structure of the heart or the flow of blood through the heart. Congenital heart disease is the most common birth defect and is often asymptomatic in the newborn period.

6. How is congenital heart disease (CHD) monitored?

Before a newborn is discharged from the hospital, the hospital should check:

• The infant’s heart murmur
• Abnormal heart rate, breathing or blood pressure

Pulse oximetry can detect low oxygen levels in the blood. Children with critical precocious heart disease are often asymptomatic after birth. However, if the infant has any of these symptoms, further testing should be performed.

7. Will pulse oximetry or baby oxygen monitor hurt my baby

No. It is a painless and non-invasive method.

8. What is the normal reading

For oxygen saturation in the baby’s foot:≥ 95%;

Infants with abnormal function or infection have low oxygen saturation readings. Sometimes low pulse oximetry caused by birth crush is normal. Your child’s physician may also do additional oxygen saturation measurements for the baby.

For resting heart rate (pulse rate):

• Newborns 0 to 1 month old: 70 to 190 beats per minute
• Infants 1 to 11 months old: 80 to 160 beats per minute
• Children 1 to 2 years old: 80 to 130 beats per minute
• Children 3 to 4 years old: 80 to 120 beats per minute
• Children 5 to 6 years old: 75 to 115 beats per minute
• Children 7 to 9 years old: 70 to 110 beats per minute
• Children 10 years and older, and adults (including seniors): 60 to 100 beats per minute
• Well-trained athletes: 40 to 60 beats per minute

9. Is it possible for an infant with severe congenital heart disease to have a normal pulse oximetry reading

It is possible. Watch for the following symptoms in your child.

• Difficulty in breastfeeding
• Sweating around the head (especially while breastfeeding)
• Shortness of breath
• Pale or bluish skin
• Lethargy and immobility
• Swollen face, arms and legs
• Irritable or difficult to calm

10. Premature baby and newborns in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit)

Although pulse oximetry monitoring is usually part of daily management for preterm infants and the baby is observed for a longer period of time than other infants without signs of congenital heart disease, some forms of congenital heart disease may go undetected in the NICU.

Routine care in the NICU does not usually involve blood gas tests for oxygen saturation measurements, raising the possibility of missed screenings.

For those infants who do not have an echocardiogram, quantitative pulse oximetry screening should be performed as soon as assisted oxygenation is terminated. If the infant has already had an echocardiographic screening, no additional pulse oximetry screening is required.