Home Oxygen - What Else Do I Need To Know?

How will my baby on home oxygen feed?

For some infants, respiratory illnesses can prevent safe or effective oral feeding and they may need nasogastric tube feeding.

What is a good room temperature for my baby on home oxygen?

Read more about home oxygen here.

It is important to keep your baby warm but not overheated. A room temperature of 18 to 20 degrees Celsius is best. Avoid polar fleece where possible as synthetic materials increase a baby's risk of overheating. Natural, breathable fabrics such as wool and cotton are best.

What medicines will my baby on home oxygen need?

When your baby goes home from hospital, they may need to take a medicine to help remove extra fluid from their lungs. This makes it easier for them to breathe. These medicines are called diuretics. 

If your baby was premature, they will also need vitamin D (Puria) and iron (most likely ferrous sulfate).

When should I immunise my premature baby?

It's important for premature infants to have their immunisations on time according to their actual date of birth, not their corrected age. See Immunisation overview for more information.

Is it safe for my premature baby to sit in a car seat?

Children with chronic neonatal lung disease can find it difficult to breathe when sitting in a car seat. Your infant may need to have an oximetry test while in a car seat to check this before leaving hospital.

For infants with respiratory problems, sitting in a car seat for long periods can affect their breathing. If you do have to travel long distances, make sure you stop frequently so you can check your baby and get them out of the car seat for a while.

What is the ideal weight for my premature baby?

Your homecare nurse or paediatrician will talk with you about the ideal weight for your baby.

It's important for your baby to gain weight (which also improves lung growth) but it's good to keep this in perspective. 

Is it safe to take my premature baby to a playgroup?

Ask anyone who is unwell not to visit you.

It is important to provide social and play options for your baby. It's also important to weigh this against the risk of infection to your medically fragile infant. Talk to your nurse about low-risk options in your area such as 'premmie playgroup'.

How do I judge my premature baby's milestones?

Remember to check your baby's development according to their due date. Medically fragile infants may be slow to develop in some areas due to medical reasons but this does not mean they will not catch up.

Babies all develop at different ages and stages and talking to your nurse or visiting neurodevelopmental therapist will give you a better idea on how your baby is doing.

What follow-ups will my premature baby need?

It is important to go to any recommended appointments.

A specialist neonatal homecare nurse will come to your house to follow up. All newborn intensive care units in New Zealand have a homecare nurse who will be your link back to the hospital. In some areas, the homecare nurse may be unable to visit themselves but they may help manage your baby's care through a nurse that lives in your community.

A paediatrician will also monitor your baby's progress. It is important to go to any recommended appointments.

When can my baby stop having home oxygen?

Weaning of oxygen flow rates will happen as your infant improves. Infants will typically have overnight oximetry studies every 2-6 weeks.

Your child's paediatrician will monitor your child's overnight oximetry test results and overall progress. This information will help them decide when your child can be weaned off home oxygen.

In general, oxygen can be reduced and eventually removed if your child:

• keeps growing
• has no evidence of pulmonary hypertension (increased blood pressure in the heart and lungs)
• can maintain oxygen levels of greater than 93 percent when off oxygen