Apnea Monitor

Since Macayla started having grand mal seizures that stopped her breathing, we started using an apnea monitor. It measures heart and respiratory rates through two (sometimes three) leads that attach to Macayla's torso. If her rates go too high or low, it will alarm. So far, we have found that most of the alarms are false, but they are not too frequent as long as we hook her up correctly. The most frequent false alarm has been a "loose connection" when she manages to rub one of the leads off. There is a soft, velcro belt that goes around her chest where the leads are and that helps keep them in place. Macayla is still squirmy enough to rub the leads off. It has alarmed a couple of times for apnea and low heart rate, but nothing was wrong. Her heart rate drops during deep sleep sometimes and this morning a yawn set off the apnea alarm. 

Another option we considered was a pulse/ox monitor where the lead is attached to a finger, toe or even around the foot. It measures their pulse and oxygen saturation. If either gets out of range, it will alarm. Macayla moves her feet and hands too much for one of those to work at night, and we question if we could get a good reading on her considering the poor circulation in her hands and feet. Overall, we have been pleased and even relieved by the apnea monitor. It allows us to leave Macayla in her room knowing that if a seizure starts we will be aware of it. So far it has provided peace of mind and only a few false alarms.