Pitfalls in respiratory monitoring of premature infants during kangaroo care.

The reliability of respiratory monitoring, using either chest or back electrodes, was studied in 13 preterm infants during kangaroo care (infant-parent skin to skin contact). In three out of four infants with chest electrodes both infant and parental respiration were clearly visible on pneumograms. In these infants apnoeic pauses were not registered because parental respiration was recorded as infant breathing. Bradycardia and oxygen saturation were, however, properly registered. In infants with electrodes placed on the back infant respiration was less superimposed by parental breathing. However, even in some of these infants parental respiration was visible in the pneumograms. It is concluded that during kangaroo care the electrodes should be placed on the back and monitoring should always include heart rate and oxygen saturation.