Young mothers often listen for a long time to the baby's breathing during sleep to make sure that everything is okay with him. Fortunately, sudden cessation of breathing in children in the first months of life is very rare - on average, it occurs in 1 child out of 1000. Let's try to understand the breathing characteristics of infants.
Baby's respiratory organs
The breathing of any person is controlled by the respiratory center - a small part of the brain. It is the respiratory center that, when the concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood increases, sends commands to the respiratory muscles, causing the muscles to contract, inflating the chest. The impulses of the nerve cells of the respiratory center set the depth, rhythm, and minute volume of breathing. The center itself is influenced by impulses from specific receptors, for example, those that perceive the concentration of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood. In addition, many nonspecific stimuli can activate the brain in general and the respiratory center in particular (this is why during childbirth, if the baby’s first breath is delayed, he is lightly spanked on the butt: this nonspecific pain stimulus from skin receptors causes an excitation process in the respiratory center , which gives a signal to start breathing).
In a newborn child who has just been born, almost all body functions are somewhat immature; he still has to develop and improve them. This can fully be attributed to breathing. It is known that the breathing of a child in the first months of life is quite irregular; sometimes even a healthy baby experiences breath holdings, or apnea, lasting up to 15-20 seconds. As a rule, such pauses in breathing are not accompanied by a decrease in heart rate or cyanosis (cyanosis) and do not entail harm to the health of the baby. However, if cyanosis (blue discoloration) of the nasolabial triangle develops during apnea, and the delays themselves exceed 20 seconds or occur too often, it is better to consult a neonatologist.
Emergency situations
Syndrome causes concern among parents around the world sudden death infants (SIDS). Other names for this condition are “sudden infant death”, “death in the cradle”. Sudden infant death syndrome is the name given to the death of children. infancy, which occurred for no apparent reason, most often at night or in the early morning hours. No abnormalities were found that could explain this death. The frequency of SIDS varies in different countries from 0.5 to 2.3-3 cases per 1000 children born alive.
Despite many studies conducted around the world, it has not yet been possible to establish reliable causes of SIDS. But scientists have made significant progress in identifying risk factors for this condition. These include:
- insufficient education of father and mother;
- poor social and living conditions of the family;
- unfavorable obstetric and gynecological history of the mother (chronic gynecological diseases, previous abortions, stillbirths, birth interval less than 14 months, young age (less than 17 years) of the mother, cases of SIDS in the family);
- complications of pregnancy (gestosis, anemia, intrauterine fetal hypoxia, delay intrauterine development);
- maternal smoking, alcohol or drug use during pregnancy;
- multiple pregnancy;
- complications of childbirth (rapid labor, delivery by caesarean section, stimulation of labor with oxytocin, prematurity, postmaturity, small (less than 2.5 kg and especially less than 2 kg) birth weight, large fetus).
Adverse factors noted after birth include signs of morphofunctional immaturity of the newborn, low Apgar score; systematic overheating of the baby; use of soft mattresses, feather beds, pillows, heavy blankets, plush toys in the crib; smoking by a nursing mother and smoking in general in the apartment where the baby is; artificial feeding; rickets. This also includes sleeping together in the parent’s bed in cases where the mother uses alcohol, drugs or sleeping pills. Of course, children who experience frequent and prolonged periods of apnea or bouts of cyanosis should be subject to especially careful monitoring.
An analysis of the risk factors for SIDS allows us to make the following generalization: everything that disrupts development, weakens the infant’s body, and increases its susceptibility to various adverse effects, be it in the intra- or extrauterine period of a baby’s life, is dangerous.
Various hypotheses have been put forward to describe the mechanism of development of SIDS. It is assumed that one of the main reasons may be failure of the respiratory center as a result of hypoxia. On the one hand, in response to a decrease in oxygen concentration and an increase in CO 2 concentration in the blood, the respiratory center must activate the movements of the respiratory muscles. On the other hand, it itself is a part of the brain, the need for oxygen in infants is much greater compared to the adult brain. Even minimal changes in breathing patterns chemical composition blood and blood supply can affect brain function. U healthy child A protective reaction to holding your breath is awakening and shortness of breath (increased breathing), followed by recovery. In some children, defensive reactions do not work, and holding their breath can transform into stopping it.
But it would be a mistake to believe that only respiratory failure is to blame for sudden death syndrome. Many studies have established that the majority of children who suffered from SIDS had impairments in their of cardio-vascular system- cardiac arrhythmias, ECG abnormalities. In addition, it is known that children at risk for SIDS have a certain sleep pathology: they do not have a periodic alternation of periods of deep and REM sleep, and the structure of their sleep is very chaotic. This may impair the ability to adapt to various stimuli. Some scientists believe that the cause of sudden death can even be the psycho-emotional stress of the baby, which he experiences if he does not feel enough love from others.
Being close to the mother leads to more rhythmic breathing and heartbeat in the baby.
Preventive measures
Some studies have suggested that the prone position during sleep increases the risk of developing SIDS. However, at present, most neonatologists agree that the determining factor is not the position during sleep, but proper organization places for a baby to sleep: the mattress must be orthopedic, hard or semi-hard; any pillows, feather beds, heavy and bulky blankets, as well as large plush toys are unacceptable - that is, anything that can cause suffocation. Cover the baby better light a blanket - woolen or synthetic, its upper edge should not extend above shoulder level. The temperature in the room where the baby sleeps should not rise above 24ºС; it is better if it is in the range of 18-21ºС. The fact is that an increase in temperature sharply increases the brain's need for oxygen and its susceptibility to hypoxia. Under no circumstances should you smoke in the room where the child is sleeping.
Contrary to expectations, co-sleeping between a baby and his parents does not increase the risk of SIDS (unless, of course, alcoholic libations and taking potent drugs are excluded), but even reduces it. The fact is that the infant body has the ability to synchronize some parameters with external similar indicators. Thus, being close to the mother leads to the establishment of more rhythmic breathing and heartbeat in the baby. Apparently, evolutionary features do not imply the existence of the baby separately from the mother. Breast-feeding without an overnight interval (which usually happens when organizing feeding on demand) is also important factor prevention of SIDS.
In addition to the preventive measures for this dangerous condition, which are assumed by nature itself, with the help of advances in science and technology, special devices have been developed that help monitor the baby’s breathing and heart rate and warn parents in case of danger. These include home monitors - a breathing monitor (its sensor is located under the crib mattress and records the movements of the baby’s respiratory muscles) and a cardiorespiratory monitor. The latest device is capable of simultaneously recording not only breathing, but the baby’s heart rate. Both devices are equipped with an alert system that is triggered in cases of prolonged apnea, and a cardiorespiratory monitor is also equipped with severe bradycardia (decreased heart rate) and arrhythmia (irrhythmic heartbeats). In these cases, as a rule, it is enough to wake up the baby, pick him up, give him a light heel massage - that is, apply nonspecific stimulation. The use of these devices can be recommended in children at high risk for developing SIDS.
Dorofey Apaeva,
pediatrician, Moscow
Discussion
Our baby died at 1.5 months from respiratory arrest. My wife and I woke up this morning and found her dead. She slept right between us... She was not sick with anything and the doctors, on the contrary, gave her a high rating on the Apgar scale. Much to our regret, I knew nothing about such a thing as apnea or SIDS, otherwise I would have given any money for such a monitor that would have warned me that my baby had stopped breathing. We were both peacefully sleeping at the moment when our baby was dying... At that moment it was possible to save her life... Moms, do not think that the probability of 1 in 1000 is too small and it will not affect you. You can't rely on chance in such things. Our daughter was absolutely healthy, but now she's gone...
But I didn’t like the under-mattress monitor (My son sleeps with me, and whose breathing does the under-mattress react to? Nonsense! And the pediatrician recommended the Snuza monitor, and I’m very pleased! And we walk with it, and the baby sleeps with it, and at least I finally sleep peacefully! !! Because to console yourself with the fact that APNEA occurs in 1 case out of 1000 is, of course, good... but I would absolutely not want to be this very only case!
What especially struck me as a risk factor was the lack of education of parents...
Yes, sometimes there is such fear, you hear sleeping and silence. so quickly listen to him, he’s breathing or not breathing!!! Paranoia!!!
Comment on the article "Breathing? Not breathing? Sudden cessation of breathing in children"
From birth, a neurologist diagnosed: perinatal hypoxic (and now for some reason organic) damage to the central nervous system, hypertensive-hydrocephalic syndrome, sm motor disorders(left-sided hemiparesis), with vegetative disorders.
Discussion
In any case, only an EEG will show epi activity or seizures, I advise you to do it in good location video monitoring, if at night it means night there is a button you press if something is in doubt and they decipher what it was. We do it at the Institute of Epilepsy and Neurology of St. Luke, they say they have one of the best equipment and they specialize in this.
A baby has a runny nose. Medical issues. A child from birth to one year. Care and education of a child up to one year: nutrition, illness, development. Section: Medical questions (can infants breathe through their mouths). A baby has a runny nose. My daughter (one month and 10 days old) got an infection from...
Discussion
Nebulizer - inhalation with saline solution. We had the swelling removed. Nazivin with the permission of the pediatrician, 1 drop.
Babies under 6 months do not breathe through their mouths at all.
Rinse and suck (preferably with an Otrivin nozzle pump)
In general, if it is an infection... then of course you need to be treated with drops.
And give Viferon candles to the baby
Discussion
You don't need anything for first class. Everywhere the program is primitive. I bought Geidman's notebooks (4 pieces) as preparation for school. But I didn’t even use them, since special editions for preschoolers were better suited, and the content was approximately the same.
1 for Geidman
Sudden infant death syndrome. What should you do if your baby is not breathing? If a child often breathes through the mouth, the oral type of breathing with a large... Children's fears and sleep disorders for other reasons. ...then the snoring stops from time to time, and the baby...
Peculiarities of infant breathing. Risk factors for sudden infant death syndrome. Peculiarities of infant breathing. However, if during apnea cyanosis (blue discoloration) of the nasolabial triangle develops, and the delays themselves exceed 20 seconds or occur...
The respiratory organs, which carry out a constant exchange of gases between the body and the environment, are one of the most important life-supporting systems in the human body. The continuous supply of oxygen into the blood, as well as the constant release of carbon dioxide from the blood, is the main function of the respiratory system, without which the life of any living organism on Earth is unthinkable...
The work of the respiratory system can be divided into two main stages.
The first is the conduction of air through the upper respiratory tract (nose, nasopharynx, larynx, trachea and bronchi) to the lungs, where gas exchange between air and blood takes place in the alveoli: oxygen comes from the air into the blood, and carbon dioxide comes from the blood into the air.
The second is gas exchange itself: in the blood vessels that bring blood to the lungs, venous blood, poor in oxygen but saturated with carbon dioxide, circulates, and from the lungs, blood enriched with oxygen and freed from carbon dioxide rushes to the tissues and organs.
The respiratory system of newborn children, like other organs and systems, has a number of age-related characteristics. These features, on the one hand, provide the necessary mode of operation of the respiratory system for a newborn, and on the other hand, they determine a predisposition to complications characteristic only of this age.
Features of the newborn's respiratory system
The mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract of a newborn are much more abundantly supplied with blood than at an older age, which creates the preconditions for the development of edema. In this regard, newborns and children in the first months of life often experience difficulty in nasal breathing. This is also facilitated by the fact that in children in the first months of life, the nasal passages are anatomically narrow. Therefore, in infants with the development of a viral or bacterial runny nose, a pronounced swelling of the nasopharyngeal mucosa first develops, followed by copious flow of mucus. These symptoms, characteristic of rhinitis at any age, are most pronounced in newborns and children in the first months of life, which is further aggravated by the fact that babies at this age do not yet know how to breathe through their mouths. Therefore, when an inflammatory process appears in the nasopharynx, a newborn child’s sleep and feeding process are sharply disrupted, because in order to ensure adequate air supply to the lungs during a runny nose, the child must scream.
- Particular attention should be paid to the age-related characteristics of the larynx. In children who are overweight and prone to allergic reactions, the mucous membrane of the larynx is even more prone to swelling. Therefore, “chubby” babies who are bottle-fed (they are the ones who are often overweight) often develop a rather dangerous complication of colds and especially viral diseases - laryngitis with laryngeal stenosis. Due to edema, a significant part of the lumen of the larynx closes, and it is difficult for the baby to breathe. This condition requires emergency medical care.
- Anatomically narrow are the trachea and bronchi in newborns. Therefore, if an inflammatory process occurs in this part of the respiratory tube, infants can quickly develop respiratory failure due to difficulty in the flow of air into the alveoli of the lungs.
- Between the pharynx and the inner ear of a person there is a so-called auditory (Eustachian) tube, the main significance of which is to maintain constant pressure in the inner ear. In babies in the first months of life, the Eustachian tube is distinguished by the fact that it has a fairly wide opening and a relatively short length. This creates the preconditions for a more rapid spread of the inflammatory process from the nasal and/or oropharynx into the ear cavity. This is why otitis media occurs more often in children. early age, preschoolers and schoolchildren are less likely to have them.
- Another important and interesting feature The structure of the respiratory organs in infants is that they do not have paranasal sinuses (they begin to form only by the age of 3), so young children never have sinusitis or sinusitis.
- The lungs of a newborn are not well developed. A child is born with lungs whose alveoli are almost completely filled amniotic fluid (amniotic fluid). This liquid is sterile and during the first two hours of life is gradually released from the respiratory tract, due to which the airiness of the lung tissue increases. This is also facilitated by the fact that during the first hours of life a newborn baby usually screams for a long time, taking deep breaths. But, nevertheless, the development of lung tissue continues throughout the entire period of early childhood.
First breath
The life of a child as an independent organism begins the moment he takes his first breath. This happens immediately after birth and the intersection of the umbilical cord connecting it to the mother’s body. Prior to this, throughout the entire period of intrauterine development, gas exchange between the fetal body and the environment was carried out through the uteroplacental circulation: the fetus received arterial blood enriched with oxygen and gave its blood saturated with carbon dioxide to the mother. But as soon as this connection is interrupted, a complex mechanism is launched aimed at stimulating the newborn’s respiratory center, located in the brain.
Powerful stimulation of the respiratory center is also facilitated by the fact that during the last hours of labor the fetus experiences moderate oxygen starvation, which increases gradually, as a result of which the concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood increases. It is this factor that is one of the most important irritants that prompts a newborn baby to take a deep breath and scream loudly immediately after birth.
Proper care is important!
Breathing in newborns and children in the first months of life is carried out mainly due to contraction of the diaphragm - the muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity, in contrast to adults and older children, in whom the intercostal muscles and abdominal muscles also take part in the breathing process. Therefore, in infants, the respiratory function suffers from problems associated with the function of the digestive tract: with constipation, increased gas formation, intestinal colic, intestinal overflow occurs and its volume increases, which, in turn, causes a violation of the contractile function of the diaphragm and, accordingly, difficulty breathing. That's why it's so important to keep track of regular bowel movements of the baby, do not allow increased gas formation. It is also very important not to swaddle your baby too tightly: this limits mobility. chest and diaphragm.
So that the baby doesn't get sick
Speaking about the features of the respiratory system of newborns and children in the first months of life, we should especially focus on the issues of preventing diseases of these organs. Diseases of the respiratory system occupy a leading position among all diseases of early age. What should parents do to ensure that their children suffer as little as possible from colds and viral rhinitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis and bronchitis?
First of all, it is necessary to maintain a healthy indoor microclimate. This implies an optimal temperature (23-24° C) and sufficient air humidity. This is especially true in winter, when heating in the room creates conditions that negatively affect the respiratory system of a person of any age. The especially vulnerable respiratory organs of infants react to these negative factors first. Fever and especially dry air in a heated room disrupt the barrier function of the nasopharyngeal mucosa. When the mucous membrane dries out, it no longer effectively resists the penetration of viruses and microbes. Therefore, you need to monitor the air temperature in the room where the child is and, if necessary, install humidifiers in it.
It is important not to cover your child's face while walking. Excessive wrapping contributes to the fact that the mucous membranes of the baby’s respiratory tract develop in “greenhouse” conditions. Therefore, accidental entry of cold air into the respiratory tract can cause the development of a cold.
As mentioned above, the nasal passages of a newborn baby are anatomically narrow, so when using the toilet it is necessary to regularly free them from crusts. This must be done with extreme caution using a cotton swab, and not cotton swabs, because the mucous membrane of a newborn is extremely tender, vulnerable and is supplied with blood much more abundantly than adults - damage to it is fraught with heavy bleeding and the development of an inflammatory process.
If a runny nose has already occurred, it is necessary to regularly clear the nasal cavity of mucus using a bulb (release the air from the bulb, insert it into the baby’s nose and wait until the walls of the bulb straighten) or a special device, and if necessary, use as prescribed by a doctor vasoconstrictor drops into the nose, helping to relieve the baby from severe swelling of the nasopharyngeal mucosa and ensure adequate air flow into the inhalation tract.
During periods of increased incidence of influenza and ARVI, it is necessary to prevent these diseases in all family members and limit visits from strangers. All adults should get a flu vaccine. A good measure to prevent viral diseases of the respiratory tract is to lubricate the baby’s nose with antiviral ointments (for example, VIFERON, GRIPFERON ointment). These ointments, in addition to their main antiviral effect, create a protective film on the nasal mucosa, which provides an additional protective barrier against the penetration of viruses.
The main measures to prevent colds and viral respiratory diseases are breastfeeding and a rational regimen for caring for the newborn. Breastfeeding ensures a constant supply of mother's immunoglobulins to the newborn's body, protecting the baby from most diseases. From the first weeks of a child’s life, you need to pay attention to hardening procedures: air baths, hygienic massage and gymnastics. All these procedures contribute better development respiratory muscles, optimize blood circulation (including in the chest), strengthen the body's defenses.
Long walks with the child in the fresh air and regular (twice a day) cross-ventilation of the children's room (when the baby is not there) are necessary.
Try to organize the bathing procedure in such a way that the child loves it: this is an excellent hardening procedure, which, among other things, has a positive effect on the entire development of the child, including the development of his respiratory system.
Needless to say, smoking by any family member negatively affects the body of the newborn. Inhalation of even insignificant concentrations of tobacco smoke causes disruption of the motor function of the villous epithelium of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, which entails the development of a tendency to prolonged and recurrent rhinitis, tracheitis and bronchitis. Children of smokers are much more likely to suffer from allergic diseases of the respiratory tract; they often have asthmatic bronchitis, which subsequently develops into such a serious disease as bronchial asthma.
Human health is established during the period of intrauterine development. And the first month of life largely determines how the potential inherent in the womb is realized. Therefore, we must make every effort to ensure that our children get sick as little as possible: the absence of colds and viral diseases in the first year of a child’s life is a good foundation for a strong body.
How does the baby breathe?
Even if all precautions are taken, free swaddling, ensuring normal activity of the newborn’s intestines, the child’s breathing in the first months of life remains superficial.
Shallow breathing does not provide enough oxygen to the baby's blood; this deficiency is compensated by increasing the frequency of respiratory movements. If in adults the normal respiratory rate is 18-19 respiratory movements per minute, in children younger age- 25-30, then in newborns - 40-60.
A newborn baby breathes frequently, but even this frequency may not be enough - under stress such as feeding and overheating, the frequency of respiratory movements may increase. If there is no difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, then increased breathing during such loads is normal. It is important to monitor the nature of breathing: if its increase is accompanied by respiratory sounds, the inclusion of auxiliary muscles in the act of breathing, flaring of the wings of the nose and groaning, then this is an obvious pathology that should be immediately reported to the doctor.
If the baby is born ahead of schedule – up to 37 weeks of pregnancy– he is considered premature.
There are several degrees of prematurity in newborns. Mild ones, as a rule, do not pose a danger to the baby’s health; severe ones require serious medical care.
Mild prematurity
If the baby is born between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy, modern medical care allows him to avoid health problems.
Breast milk for premature babies
Full breastfeeding is not always available. Thus, premature babies, as a rule, do not have a sucking reflex - they are fed through a tube. Does not necessarily transfer the baby to artificial feeding. Pumping is the way out.
In some cases, children with mild prematurity do not have time to fully mature their lungs. They require additional assistance with breathing: artificial ventilation or supplemental oxygen in the first days of life.
Many mildly preterm babies have feeding problems. Babies born before 34-35 weeks are not able to suck on their own - they have to be fed with a tube.
Therefore, babies born at this time are forced to stay in the children's department of a hospital or maternity hospital for several more weeks until they can begin to feed themselves.
Additionally, all premature babies may have trouble maintaining their body temperature for several weeks. In this case they are left in kuveze– a special box for newborns – to maintain optimal temperature and monitor cardiac activity and respiration.
In the future, after discharge, parents should Monitor your child's body temperature carefully. Premature babies can easily become overheated or catch a cold.
Average degree of prematurity
The child is born at 28-31 weeks of pregnancy. In children born at this time, the lungs are not yet fully mature for breathing. They usually require assistance in the form of mechanical ventilation or a constant flow of oxygen-enriched air to maintain positive airway pressure.
Most children with average degree Prematurity requires such assistance for a fairly short time.
If the child is on artificial ventilation, he is fed through an intravenous catheter. Children who breathe on their own can feed on mother's milk through a tube until they learn to suck on their own.
Severe degree of prematurity
The baby is born before the 28th week of pregnancy. Previously, such children survived extremely rarely, but modern medicine makes it possible to care for such babies.
Almost all children born at this stage have not yet developed lungs - most of them require artificial ventilation or a flow of air enriched with oxygen.
The lungs can support respiratory functions from 22-24 weeks of gestation, but the alveoli, necessary for normal oxygen absorption, develop only at 28-30 weeks of pregnancy.
In addition, severely premature babies cannot feed themselves and maintain their body temperature. Parents of such children need to understand that the child will stay in the children's department for a long time.
What are the dangers for children being born prematurely?
Babies born before the 37th week of pregnancy may experience problems associated not only with the lack of a sucking reflex.
The shorter the period at which a child was born, the higher his risk of developing various diseases, characteristic of premature babies.
Undeveloped lungs
Pulmonary disorders pose the greatest danger. For example, newborn shortness of breath syndrome, in which the baby’s immature lungs cannot fully expand. To inhale, the child has to make significant efforts.
Such children require artificial respiration.
Stopping breathing
In premature babies, the respiratory center of the brain is not yet fully formed. If a person does not breathe quickly enough, commands from the brain stem compensate by breathing deeper.
Newborn babies, on the other hand, breathe shallowly and unevenly, and have periods of too slow breathing. If they occur too often, doctors say development of respiratory arrest, or apnea.
A baby with this disorder needs constant monitoring in the first weeks of life. As the child grows, the risk of sleep apnea decreases.
Features of the heart
During intrauterine development, a child's blood practically does not pass through his lungs due to the structural features of the heart. The fetal heart pumps blood from the right ventricle not into the pulmonary artery, but into the aorta through an opening called the ductus arteriosus.
Soon after birth in full-term babies it closes, but in premature babies it may remain open. This leads to increased stress on the lungs and heart. This condition requires medical or even surgical treatment.
Infections, metabolic problems and blindness
Infections affect premature babies more often than babies born at full term. One of the reasons for this vulnerability is immaturity of the immune system, in which antibodies in the child’s blood are produced in insufficient quantities.
Also dangerous for premature babies and viral infections, which cause only mild cold symptoms in other babies.
In addition, children born prematurely may have problems with the absorption of nutrients, as well as a lack of hemoglobin associated with the low rate of formation of red blood cells - erythrocytes.
Premature babies may also develop retinal damage - retinopathy of prematurity, without early treatment leading to blindness.
That is why premature babies should remain under the supervision of neonatologists from birth until the moment when their body is ready for independent life.
The most important
A child born even before the 28th week of pregnancy can not only survive, but also over time catch up in development with full-term children.
All premature babies require careful care and medical supervision to avoid diseases caused by the immaturity of their body.
Breathing is the most important process in the human body of any age, along with the contraction of the heart muscle. Breathing removes carbon dioxide from the body and saturates cells with oxygen. Without it, not a single living creature on the planet can exist. The maximum a person can spend without oxygen is 5 minutes. The world record, recorded after a long period of human preparation for existence in airless space, namely under water, is 18 minutes.
A newborn baby breathes more often than adults, due to the fact that the respiratory system itself is not yet fully formed
The process itself is divided into two stages. When a person inhales through the respiratory tract, air enters the lungs, which is divided into oxygen and carbon dioxide as it passes through the circulatory system. When you exhale, carbon dioxide is removed from the body. Oxygen is distributed to all tissues and organs through the arteries, and carbon dioxide is removed through the venous blood back to the lungs. Nature itself ordered this wisely and functionally. The breathing of any newborn, like an adult, is an important rhythmic process, failures in which can indicate problems in the body and lead to serious consequences.
Newborn breathing
Infant breathing is of great importance both as an indicator of the baby’s health and as the main life-supporting process of a newborn child, which has its own age characteristics, in particular, a very narrow respiratory passage. The child's airways are short, so deep, full inhalation and exhalation are not possible. The nasopharynx is narrow, and the smallest foreign object, trapped there, can cause sneezing and coughing, and the accumulation of mucus and dust can cause snoring, snoring and choking. Even a slight runny nose is dangerous for a baby due to hyperemia of the mucous membrane and narrowing of the lumen.
Young parents should try to make every effort to prevent the baby from catching a viral disease and catching a cold, because both rhinitis and bronchitis in infancy are very dangerous, they have to be treated long and hard, because toddlers cannot yet take most medications. Support, do for the baby, dose the frequency of guests and the duration of walks.
Frequent walks and fresh air have a beneficial effect on the baby’s health and breathing Specifics of baby breathing
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The baby's body develops literally by the hour. All organs and systems work in an enhanced mode, therefore both the baby’s pulse rate and blood pressure are much higher than those of an adult. So, the pulse reaches 140 beats per minute. Organism little man physiologically tuned to rapid breathing in order to compensate for the impossibility of deep, full inhalations and exhalations due to the imperfection of the respiratory system, narrow passages, weak muscles and small ribs.
Babies' breathing is shallow, they often breathe intermittently and unevenly, which can frighten parents. Even respiratory failure is possible. By the age of 7, the child’s respiratory system is fully formed, the baby outgrows it and stops getting very sick. Breathing becomes similar to that of adults, and rhinitis, bronchitis and pneumonia are more easily tolerated.
Sports and yoga, frequent walks and room ventilation will help your child under 7 years old to more easily tolerate imperfections in their respiratory system.
Tempo, frequency and types of breathing
If the baby breathes frequently, but there is no wheezing or noise, then this breathing is a normal process. If any abnormalities are observed, the child should be shown to a doctor. If your little one does not have a stuffy nose and his body is functioning normally, then the baby does two or three short lungs inhalation, then one deep one, while the exhalations remain equally superficial. This is the specificity of breathing of any newborn. The child breathes frequently and quickly. The baby takes about 40-60 breaths per minute to provide the body with oxygen. A 9-month-old toddler should breathe more rhythmically, deeply and evenly. Noises, wheezing, and flaring of the wings of the nose should worry parents and force them to show the child to a pediatrician.
The number of respiratory movements is usually calculated by the movements of the baby’s chest when he is at rest. Respiratory rate norms are given in the list:
- until the third week of life – 40-60 breaths;
- from the third week of life to three months – 40-45 breaths per minute;
- from 4 months to six months – 35-40;
- from six months to 1 year – 30-36 inhalations and exhalations per minute.
To make the data more clear, let us point out that the normal respiratory rate of an adult is up to 20 inhalations and exhalations per minute, and in a sleeping state the indicator decreases by another 5 units. Standards help pediatricians determine health status. If the respiratory rate, abbreviated as respiratory rate, deviates from generally accepted positions, we can talk about a disease of the respiratory or other system in the newborn’s body. Parents themselves can not miss the onset of the disease by periodically calculating the respiratory rate at home, according to Dr. Komarovsky.
Each mother can independently check the frequency and type of breathing During life, a baby can breathe three different ways, which is physiologically provided by nature, namely:
- Breast type. It is predetermined by characteristic chest movements and does not sufficiently ventilate the lower parts of the lungs.
- Abdominal type. With it, the diaphragm and abdominal wall move, and the upper parts of the lungs are not sufficiently ventilated.
- Mixed type. The most complete type of breathing, both the upper and lower respiratory tracts are ventilated.
Deviations from the norm
Options physiological development do not always meet generally accepted standards due to human ill health. Causes of deviations from normal breathing that are not pathology:
- The baby may breathe too quickly during physical activity, games, in an excited state of a positive or negative nature, in moments of crying;
- in their sleep, newborns can sniffle, wheeze and even whistle melodiously; if this phenomenon is infrequent, then it is due solely to the underdevelopment of the respiratory system and does not require the intervention of doctors.
The baby's breathing rate may change depending on his condition, for example, while crying Why might children hold their breath?
Before the baby reaches the sixth month of his life, he may experience shortness of breath (apnea), and this is not a pathology. During sleep, holding your breath accounts for up to 10 percent of the total time. Uneven breathing may have the following causes:
- ARVI. With colds and viral diseases, the breathing rate becomes higher, there may be delays, wheezing, and sniffling.
- Oxygen deficiency. It manifests itself not only by holding your breath, but also by blueness of the skin and clouding of consciousness. The child gasps for air. In this case, doctor intervention is needed.
- Increased body temperature. Lost rhythm and shortness of breath often indicate an increase in temperature; this can occur not only against the background of ARVI, but also during teething.
- False croup. The most serious illness that causes suffocation requires immediate medical attention.
If we are talking about children under 7 years old and especially kindergarten age, then adenoids may be the cause of apnea, due to big size which the child holds his breath. Adenoiditis is a common disease that occurs in children attending nurseries. preschool changing clothes in cold rooms and very often suffering from ARVI. It is characterized by difficulty breathing, especially at night, because enlarged adenoids prevent the baby from breathing fully through the nose.
Difficulty breathing in a child may be a consequence of enlarged adenoids. In this case, breathing will return to normal only with treatment. of this disease Adenoiditis is treated with antiseptic sprays and nasal drops; homeopathy and long-term stays in warm home conditions are quite popular. Medicines for swollen lymph nodes are effective. Treatment requires long-term and continuous treatment; if unsuccessful, removal of the adenoids may be recommended.
Has your baby suddenly stopped breathing? Parents should know what to do in this case. If you find a sleeping child who is not breathing, carefully wake him up, while providing access fresh air into the room. If breathing does not return after 15 seconds, call ambulance, and do CPR yourself.
What is wheezing?
Ideally, a newborn's breathing occurs without difficulty or wheezing. The appearance of noise indicates a problem in the body. Wheezing is difficulty inhaling and exhaling through narrowed airways and can occur due to infection, bronchospasm, swelling or foreign body. A symptom of false croup is rough wheezing when inhaling, stridor (we recommend reading:).
When is medical attention required?
If you hear wheezing, then analyze the general condition of the baby. Call an ambulance if you notice one of the following symptoms: blue skin around the lips; the child is lethargic and drowsy, consciousness is foggy; the baby cannot speak.
Wheezing in a baby may indicate the onset of a cold. In this case, mommy needs to call a pediatrician at home Please note that there are cases when a toddler accidentally inhales a foreign body. Make sure that there are no small objects, jewelry, toys, beads or rhinestones near the baby.
Let us tabulate the situations when wheezing is noticeable in a child’s breathing, possible reasons and your actions (we recommend reading:).
| Situation | Cause | Actions |
| The baby periodically experiences wheezing out of the blue, especially during sleep (we recommend reading:). He is developing normally routine inspection The pediatrician does not show any pathologies. | Physiological imperfection of the baby's respiratory tract. There are no pathologies. | Take this phenomenon calmly, the situation will change when your child is one year old. Consult a doctor if your baby wheezes too loudly or frequently, or if your baby makes sounds that are unusual for your ear when he inhales or exhales. The main thing is to provide comfortable conditions for the development of the child’s body, humidify the air, maintain the temperature in the children’s room within 21 degrees Celsius, ventilate the nursery 2 times a day (see also:). |
| Wheezing due to ARVI or cold. The little one has a cough and runny nose. | Viral disease. | Contact your pediatrician and ENT doctor. Plenty of fluids and comfortable conditions for the baby until the doctor arrives. |
| The child periodically develops a cough or runny nose, which does not go away with anti-ARVI medications, and lasts more than 2 days (see also:). Relatives have been diagnosed with allergies or asthma. | Allergic cough or asthma. | Analyze what may cause allergies. First of all, make sure that there are no allergens in the mother’s diet if the baby is breastfeeding. During feeding, unwanted substances may be transferred to him. The flowering period of ragweed and other allergic plants, dust in the room, and the child’s clothing all play a role. Contact an allergist and get tested for allergens. |
When should you call an ambulance?
There are situations when your child urgently needs to call a doctor or an ambulance. Let us indicate in which cases wheezing is a harbinger of a serious illness in the baby. This may be the onset of a serious illness, a critical condition, or a foreign body entering the respiratory tract, causing suffocation and swelling.
You can relieve a child’s difficulty breathing with bronchitis with the help of syrup, which will be prescribed by the attending physician. | Wheezing accompanied by frequent painful coughing that lasts more than a day. | Bronchiolitis is an infection of the bronchioles of the lungs, the smallest branches of the bronchi. It appears more often in children. | This serious illness requires emergency medical attention. Possibly hospitalization. |
| A kindergarten-aged child speaks through his nose, snores and wheezes during sleep, swallows, and is subject to frequent colds. The baby gets tired quickly and breathes through his mouth. | Adenoiditis. | Contact your ENT doctor. Keep your child warm, limit trips, do wet cleaning more often, and humidify the room. |
| Wheezing and severe cough due to fever. | Bronchitis. Pneumonia. | See your doctor as soon as possible. If the child is no longer an infant, and you have experience in treating him with ARVI, you can give the child a suitable cough syrup and an antiallergic drug to alleviate the condition. Bronchitis and, especially, pneumonia may require hospitalization. |
| Wheezing against the background of a dry barking cough, heat, hoarseness of voice, strange crying. | False croup. | Call an ambulance. Before the doctors arrive, humidify the room and provide a flow of fresh air. |
| Sudden, severe wheezing, especially after the baby was left alone for some time, and there were people nearby small items, from toys to buttons. The baby is crying loudly and hoarsely. | A foreign body has entered the respiratory tract. | Call an ambulance only medical worker will help clear the airways of foreign bodies. |
Why is wheezing more common in babies?
Most often, wheezing is diagnosed in children under 3 years of age. This is due to insufficient formation of the respiratory tract. They are narrow and easier to clog with mucus, dust, and are prone to swelling. It is more difficult for children to be treated, because they cannot take many medications produced by the pharmaceutical industry, so ARVI and colds are more difficult and longer. Why is breathing sometimes heavy and noisy? It's all about dry and dusty air, according to Dr. Komarovsky. It is necessary to humidify the air and harden children to avoid breathing problems, colds, early adenoiditis and complications.
