The heartrate of a baby can be determined by feeling the pulse. A pulse rate is the measurement of how many times the heart contracts in one minute. An electrocardiograph (EKG) is a technical machine that is used to capture many details about your baby's heartbeat. This information can be interpreted by the doctor to help maintain health and to diagnose and treat illnesses. You can also measure your childs heart rate by feeling the vessels pulsate as the heart pumps blood to the arteries. Ateries rise just below the surface of the skin at various points in the body.
Pulse Points
Having the ability to locate a pulse is important, especially during a medical emergency. You should feel for pulses on your child with your digit fingers and not the thumb because the thumb has its own pulse and will hinder you from getting an accurate reading.
The temporal pulse can be measured at either temple, the carotid pulse at either side of the neck, the apical pulse through the left side chest wall, the radial pulse on the thumb side of the inner aspect of either wrist, the femoral pulse at either groin, the popliteal pulse behind either knee and the pedal pulse at the top of either foot. With infants you tend to use the brachial artery in the upper portion of the arm to measure pulse rate. These are the major pulse points on a baby, but you can also measure the heart rate of the unborn child by using a fetal monitor.
Normal Pulse Rate
The heart rate changes through out the various stages of growth and development of the human body. The approximate heart rate in-utero, at rest should be about 110 to 170 beats per minute, infants heart rate is about 100 to 160 beats per minute, children one to 10 years tend to have pulse rates of about 70 to 120 beats per minute, children over 10 years old and adults should have a pulse rate between 60 to 100 beats per minute and athletes have a lower heart beat ranging from 40 to 60 beats per minute.
Old Wives Tale
Throughout history people have tried to predict the sex of the child before it was born. As science advanced, many have tried to use technology to aide them in revealing the gender mystery. Fetal heart monotoning was one such tactic that was attempted until the mid 1080s when a senior sonographer studied 10,000 cases.
She discovered that there was no relation between the baby's heart rate and the infants gender. That technique is now referred to as an old-wives-tale. A new technological advancement called the ultra sound machine uses echo waves to make an image of the baby while still inside its mother. This allows the action of the fetuses heart beating to be viewed and evaluated for any complications.
Anomalies
When the heart is not beating effectively your child can be in serious danger. Abnormalities could have developed during pregnancy, but if the symptoms are not caught the child can have complications at birth or later on in life. Heart failure is usually associated with old age, but it is also prevalent amongst children. Symptoms of swelling (edema), bluish discoloration of skin (cyanosis), or even lack of appetite can be signs that something may be wrong. Seek medical attention and get professional advice.
What Does it all Mean?
In short, knowing where to find a pulse rate on a child, how to measure it and what the value of the reading are all things that you should know as a new parent, baby sitter, teacher or whenever you find your responsibilities include caring for a child. These things should be discussed with your doctor if you are a parent. He can direct you or if you want to learn more, perhaps you can get in touch with your neighborhood fire house or community center and find out about taking a CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) class.
