Respiratory distress is a serious complication that many infants face, especially those born premature. The signs that a baby cannot breathe are similar to those in an adult with one notable exception: A newborn infant can't tell you what is going on with his body. Parents must watch for the telltale signs that a baby is not getting enough oxygen. Respiratory distress is a medical emergency. Call 911 if you suspect a problem.
Preemies
A preemie is born before the 37th week of gestation, according to Medline Plus. Complicating early delivery are the undeveloped organs, especially the lungs. For this reason, preemies are at risk of breathing problems. Monitoring is essential when your baby is born premature. Knowing the signs and symptoms of respiratory distress can help avert catastrophe and keep your child safe. Although respiratory distress is often associated with preemies, a full-term infant is not immune from this problem.
Chest Movement
Breathing is an autonomic response that takes little effort for a healthy baby. One sign that your child is having difficulty is that the chest appears to be working harder than usual. With normal breathing, you should see the chest rise and fall slowly. A distressed system will pull on the chest harder as it attempts to improve the flow of oxygen. This means that when your baby breathes, you may see the rib cage pull toward the sides as the chest pushes further out.
Sounds
Sounds can alert you to a breathing problem in your baby. A child having trouble getting breath may make a grunting noise because of the strain of trying to draw in air. You may hear rapid breathing that grows faster over a few minutes. Any crying will probably be unusually soft and difficult to hear, because crying requires air. A baby in respiratory distress will not have enough air to push through the vocal cords and produce a loud noise. The lack of crying may be a symptom.
Acute Symptoms
Respiratory distress comes in various degrees of severity. "Acute" means that your baby needs immediate help and may stop breathing. Poorly oxygenated skin develops a bluish tint. You may see it on the fingernail beds or the edges of the nostrils and lips first. When a baby is in trouble, periods of apnea, or delays in inhalation, become longer. Apnea may start small, but as the distress becomes acute, the time between inhalations will lengthen. Do not wait to get help once you notice any of these symptoms. Call 911 and stay on the phone so the operator can guide you in performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation if it becomes necessary.
