Why Do You Put a Tachypneic Baby on Its Belly

What is transient tachypnea?

The amniotic fluid contained in the amniotic sac is very important for your developing baby. This fluid surrounds your unborn baby in the womb and acts as a cushion to protect the baby from injury.

It also keeps the temperature stable and is needed for the development of healthy bones and lungs. In the womb, the babe's lungs are filled with fluid. This is normal and healthy.

During labor, your infant's body releases chemicals to help their lungs push button out the fluid. The pressure of the birth canal on your baby'due south chest also releases fluid from their lungs. After nativity, your baby'due south cough, as well as air filling their lungs, should miscarry the remaining amniotic fluid.

However, sometimes the fluid doesn't leave the lungs every bit quickly and completely every bit it should. This excess fluid in the lungs can make it hard for the baby'southward lungs to function properly. This condition is known as transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN).

This status typically causes a fast breathing rate (tachypnea) for the babe. While the symptoms may be distressing, they're typically not life-threatening. They usually disappear inside 1 to iii days later on birth.

Other names for transient tachypnea include:

moisture lung in newborns
retained fetal lung fluid
prolonged transition

What are the symptoms of transient tachypnea?

The symptoms of transient tachypnea are different for each newborn. Mutual symptoms of this condition include:

rapid animate, which means over 60 breaths per infinitesimal
labored breathing, including grunting and moaning
nostril flaring
bluish pare (cyanosis)
the appearance of the chest sinking under the ribcage with each breath (also called retractions)

What causes transient tachypnea?

The exact cause of transient tachypnea in newborns isn't always known. The condition may exist caused by the inability of the newborn's lungs to expel or absorb amniotic fluid during and following delivery.

Babies built-in by cesarean delivery are more than likely to develop this condition. A cesarean delivery doesn't permit the fluid to exist squeezed out of the baby's lungs, which commonly occurs in the nascency canal during vaginal delivery.

Other factors that may contribute to the development of transient tachypnea include:

beingness built-in to a mother who has diabetes
rapid vaginal delivery
delayed cord clamping

Male babies and those born at a larger birth weight are likewise more likely to develop this status.

How is transient tachypnea diagnosed?

The symptoms of transient tachypnea can be associated with other medical weather newborns tin can have. This may make information technology difficult for your doctor to diagnose this condition. Your doctor will review your pregnancy, labor, and complications to make a diagnosis. Your doctor also examines your baby.

Tests may also exist needed to ostend the diagnosis. These tests might include:

complete blood count (CBC) and blood culture to run into if your baby has an infection, such as pneumonia
blood gas test to check your babe's blood oxygen and carbon dioxide levels
chest X-rays to study the lungs for causes of respiratory distress
pulse oximetry monitoring, in which an oxygen sensor is attached to your babe's human foot, allowing the doc to monitor the baby's oxygen levels

If there are no other causes for your infant's symptoms, your doc may brand a diagnosis of transient tachypnea.

How is transient tachypnea treated?

If your infant has the symptoms of transient tachypnea, they'll be given supplemental oxygen (if needed) to keep claret oxygen levels stable. This oxygen is typically delivered through a tube that's placed around your baby's head and in their nose (via a nasal cannula).

Virtually babies reply to treatment within 12 to 24 hours. During this period, the amount of supplemental oxygen needed past your infant should decrease.

Newborns with breathing difficulties may not feed properly. If this occurs, your physician volition likewise provide fluids and nutrients to your baby intravenously (through a vein) or via a tube through their olfactory organ into their tum.

Because transient tachypnea can be difficult to distinguish from an infection, your physician may besides prescribe antibiotics. If examination results show there's no infection, these antibiotics will exist stopped.

In rare cases, usually when other weather condition are present besides TTN, breathing difficulties may make it necessary to utilise a ventilator. A ventilator is a machine that tin can assist your baby breathe until they're able to exhale independently.

What'due south the outlook for a newborn with transient tachypnea?

The symptoms of transient tachypnea typically resolve inside one to three days post-obit birth. In some cases, the symptoms may last upwards to a week. One time the symptoms resolve, newborns don't commonly have any additional health problems or demand special follow-up care.

How tin transient tachypnea be prevented?

There'south no fashion to definitively prevent transient tachypnea. However, yous can increase your chances of giving nascency to a healthy baby past:

eating a healthy diet during pregnancy, which includes lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
seeing your doctor regularly for prenatal checkups
quitting smoking
non consuming alcohol or drugs that aren't prescribed by your physician