When new parents hear the term “NICU,” it can really make their hearts drop.
In fact, nearly 10% of babies in the US find themselves in the neonatal intensive care unit right after birth, usually due to being born prematurely or facing serious health issues. It’s a daunting way to begin life.
For instance, my premature twins arrived at 33 weeks and four days, and they spent several weeks in the NICU. They were attached to machines that supported their breathing and helped them take in breast milk.
Before they could finally leave, they had to demonstrate they could breathe and feed on their own, plus pass a 90-minute car seat test.
Hospitals require all babies to go home in a car seat to meet safety regulations.
However, NICU babies often have weaker neck and chest muscles, which means they can slump in their car seats, creating potential breathing challenges or drops in heart rate and oxygen levels.
During the car seat test, nurses observe important signs like heart rate, breathing rhythm, and oxygen saturation to verify it’s safe for the baby to travel.
In our case, one of my twins failed the test twice due to low oxygen levels. Thankfully, she passed on the third try, but we still felt uneasy about taking her home without the monitors we had grown accustomed to.
Our NICU doctor recommended the Owlet Baby Monitor, which tracks a baby’s pulse, oxygen, and sleep patterns, alerting parents in real time if something is off.
He did caution us, though, that the monitor might trigger false alarms, potentially sending us rushing to the emergency room unnecessarily.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t use the FDA-cleared Dream Sock, priced at $299, while she was still connected to machines for testing.
So, we were on our own with this sock that resembled a tiny gladiator sandal, fastening tightly around her foot with Velcro-like straps.
It comes with a sensor that relays information to an app for parents.
Interestingly, some data we received, such as whether our daughter was in light or deep sleep, was something we hadn’t gotten in the hospital.
A few times, we received alarms when her oxygen levels dipped during feeding, prompting us to adjust her position. Just a heads up: the siren is incredibly loud. That first alarm? Unforgettable.
One downside, though, is that if the sock is kicked off or moved too far from its base, it will sound an alarm. While it won’t cause panic as if she stopped breathing, it’s still a jolt when you hear it for less serious reasons.
There were times when I startled my husband awake just trying to take the baby out for a quick walk with our dog, and the Owlet went off because it was out of range.
As a new parent, especially one with NICU experience, you really don’t want to add more stress to your plate.
Moreover, our pediatrician warned us that it’s easy for new parents to obsess over the app’s readings, reacting to the smallest variations.
Still, I’m glad we chose to use the Owlet. We monitored our twin’s progress until she consistently showed stable numbers over time.
This kind of device seems particularly beneficial for babies with breathing troubles or those trying to establish a sleep routine. The Owlet played a significant role in easing some of the uncertainties that come with new parenthood.
