Women's Center

Childbirth

APNEA (A's) is when there is an absence or prolonged pause in breathing which is typical in premature infants.
ASPIRATE (Residual) is the amount of undigested milk left in your infant's stomach. It is usually checked before a feeding is given.
BILIRUBIN is a waste product that occurs naturally in your infant's body when red blood cells are broken down. The liver has to handle this waste product at a time when it is very immature. Bilirubin builds up in the skin until the liver can process it, causing the skin to become a yellowish color (jaundiced).
JAUNDICE is the yellow staining of the tissue caused by too much unprocessed bilirubin in your infant's blood.
BRADYCARDIA (B's) means a slow heart rate.
SEPSIS indicates an infection or the presence of bacterial/viruses in your infant's blood or tissues.
"DESATS" are short periods of time when the oxygen level in your infant's body drops below the acceptable level.
TACHYPNEA means an abnormally fast breathing rate, usually faster than 60 breaths per minute.