Bradycardia ("Brady"): When Your Baby's Heart Rate Slows Down
What It Means
Bradycardia, often called a "brady," means your baby's heart rate temporarily slows below the expected range.
Premature babies commonly experience bradycardia because the nervous system that controls heart rate is still developing.
Why It's Important
Bradycardia often happens during apnea or while feeding.
Many episodes are brief and improve without treatment, while others may require gentle stimulation from your baby's nurse.
As premature babies mature, these episodes usually become less frequent.
What Parents Often Notice
You may notice:
A monitor alarm
Staff watching your baby's monitor closely
A nurse gently touching or repositioning your baby
💛 Parent Tip
Instead of focusing only on the alarm, ask your baby's nurse what caused the episode and whether your baby recovered independently. That information tells you much more about your baby's progress.
Questions You Can Ask
Was that a significant brady?
Did my baby recover without help?
Are the episodes becoming less frequent?
What milestones need to happen before discharge?
