When the baby's heart slows down, it is called a bradycardia. When a baby stops breathing for more than 20 seconds, it is called apnea. Sometimes apnea causes bradycardia.

 

Bagging

Using a bag and/or mask to gently pump oxygen into the lungs and help the baby's breathing.

Bilirubin

A substance in the blood that is formed by the breakdown of red blood cells. Sooner or later, it leaves the body in the urine or stool. Too much bilirubin causes a baby's skin to turn yellow (called jaundice). This can be corrected with a special light called a phototherapy light.

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a lung reaction to oxygen or a ventilator needed to treat a preemie with a lung infection, severe RDS, or extreme prematurity. Preemies are often treated with medication and oxygen for this condition.

Bubble CPAP

A machine used to give extra oxygen and air to help keep the baby's airway open.

Continuous Postive Airway Pressure (CPAP)

A constant pressure of air given to a baby who can breathe on his or her own but is not able to keep up this needed pressure in the lungs.

Cyanosis

A bluish color of the skin, lips and tongue. Cyanosis is caused when there is not enough oxygen in the blood.

Desaturation (Destats)

A drop in the amount of oxygen in the blood

Endotracheal Tube (ETT or ET Tube)

A soft plastic tube that is placed into a baby's trachea (windpipe) through the mouth. An ETT is hooked up to a ventilator. This lets air move into and out of the lungs.

Gestational Age

The age of a baby given in weeks dating from the first day of the mother's last menstrual period. A gestation time of less than 37 weeks is called premature and one that goes past 42 weeks is called post-mature.

Hemoglobin (HGB) & Hematocrit (HCT) or H&H

Hemoglobin is a substance in the blood cell that carries oxygen. Hemotocrit is the number of red blood cells.

Hyeral, TPN, HAL

A yellow liquid that has sugar, protein, vitamins, and minerals. It is given through a tube in the baby's vein called an IV.

Intubate

To place an ETT (endotracheal tube) through a baby's mouth or nose into the windpipe. It is attached to a ventilator to help with breathing.

IV

A small plastic tube or catheter placed inside the baby's vein by a needle. The needle is removed and thrown away and the small plastic tube remains in the baby's vein. It is used to give fluids and medicines.

Jaundice

A condition of too much bilirubin in the blood. It causes the skin to look yellow.

Lead Poisoning

 

Nasal Cannula

A small tube resting in the baby's nose holes to give extra oxygen.

Oxygen Saturation

This is the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream.

Patent Ductus Arteriosus

The ductus arteriosus is a short blood vessel that connects the main blood vessel supplying the lungs to the aorta, the main blood vessel that leaves the heart. Its function in the unborn baby is to allow blood to bypass the lungs, because oxygen for the blood comes from the mother and not from breathing air. In full-term babies, the ductus arteriosus closes shortly after birth, but it frequently stays open in premature babies. When this happens, excess blood flows into the lungs and can cause breathing difficulties and sometimes heart failure. Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is often treated with a medication called indomethacin, which is successful in closing the ductus arteriosus in more than 80% of infants requiring this medication. However, if indomethacin therapy fails, then surgery may be required to close the ductus.

Reflux

A backward flow of fluid. Gastroesophageal reflux is when the stomach contents come up the esophagus (food pipe) to the mouth. It can sometimes cause apnea and bradycardia.

Respiratory Distress Syndrome

One of the most common and immediate problems facing premature infants is difficulty breathing. Although there are many causes of breathing difficulties in premature infants, the most common is called respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). In RDS, the infant's immature lungs don't produce enough of an important substance called surfactant. Surfactant allows the inner surface of the lungs to expand properly when the infant makes the change from the womb to breathing air after birth. Fortunately, RDS is treatable and many infants do quite well. When premature delivery can't be stopped, most pregnant women can be given medication just before delivery to help prevent RDS. Then, immediately after birth and several times later, artificial surfactant can be given to the infant. Although most premature babies who lack surfactant will require a breathing machine, or ventilator, for a while, the use of artificial surfactant has greatly decreased the amount of time that infants spend on the ventilator.

Retinopathy of Prematurity

The eyes of premature infants are especially vulnerable to injury after birth. A serious complication is called retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), which is abnormal growth of the blood vessels in an infant's eye. About 7% of babies weighing 1,250 grams or less at birth develop ROP, and the resulting damage may range from mild (the need for glasses) to severe (blindness). The cause of ROP in premature infants is unknown. Although it was previously thought that too much oxygen was the primary problem, further research has shown that oxygen levels (either too low or too high) play only a contributing factor in the development of ROP. Premature babies receive eye exams in the NICU to check for ROP.

Surfactant

A substance made by the lung cells that helps keep the air sacs open between breaths. The making of surfactant is not as good in premature babies. A substitute surfactant may be placed in the baby's lungs through the endotracheal tube to help the lungs.

Skin-toSkin (Kangaroo Care)

This is when a parent holds his or her baby (usually between the mother's breasts). This gives the baby close, warm human contact.

Sepsis

An infection caused by harmful germs in the blood.

Suction

A small tube that may be used to remove mucous from the baby's mouth, nose or from the endotracheal tube.

Tachycardia

Rapid or fast heartbeat

Tachypnea

Rapid or fast breathing