Can a baby suffocate in the womb. What to do if the child has hard, heavy or frequent breathing, wheezing is heard

Human life directly depends on the circulation of blood through the vessels. And in order to prevent various problems, you need to know everything about the features of your child's breathing.

Being in the mother's womb, the fetus can already breathe. When an egg is fertilized, the embryo needs oxygen to survive. And for the first 10 weeks, he draws this oxygen from reserves, and only after the placenta appears, the fetus begins to breathe on its own. This happens somewhere at 10-12 weeks of fetal development. The villi of the placenta, attached to the maternal vessels, very quickly absorb the substances necessary for life, oxygen is no exception. (We recommend reading:).

Features of the breathing process at the time of the birth of a little man

During this period, the baby can already breathe on its own, and absorb oxygen with the help of the placenta. The full functioning of the lungs of a newborn often begins only after the cotton, which the obstetrician makes on the pope of the crumbs. But at the same time, he receives oxygen, which goes to the lungs through the still uncircumcised umbilical cord that connects the child to the mother. When the umbilical cord is cut, the baby begins to breathe on its own.

The birth of a child is the most important event in the life of every family. As well as the first cry of a newborn, his first breath makes him feel the endless joy of his mother, pouring out tears of happiness when she sees her baby. And it is not for nothing that many parents are concerned about how their baby develops in the womb and, in particular, they are interested in how the child breathes in the womb, given the fact that he is in the water.

How does a baby breathe in the womb

For all the time, from the fertilized egg to the onset of childbirth, the developing organism receives a continuous supply of oxygen, but this happens in a very interesting and unusual way. Initially, the fertilized egg is nourished by a substance that is a shellless egg called the yolk sac. It is he who delivers all the necessary substances to the nascent life, and also represents a reliable protection for the developing fetus.
When a period of fourteen weeks is reached, a new organ appears in the fetus, which will continue to ensure its vital functions throughout the pregnancy - this is the placenta, otherwise it is also called the "children's place". And this is done in the following way: the blood, enriched with oxygen, enters from the placenta (namely, through the so-called placental villi) into the circulatory system of the developing baby through the artery in the umbilical cord.
Obtaining oxygen through the placenta ends after the birth of the baby. But an interesting point is the fact that after the birth of the artery in the umbilical cord maintain the supply of air until the woman's body begins to reject the placenta. It is after this that the baby begins to breathe on its own.

Getting oxygen to the baby through the umbilical cord.

The child can breathe not only through the placenta, but also receive oxygen through the umbilical cord. I would like to figure out how a child breathes in the womb through the umbilical cord. The umbilical cord is a connected vessel, thanks to which the developing fetus is attached to the mother's body, and it is formed starting from the second week of fetal development, and becomes larger in the process of embryo growth. It is a natural fact that the size of the umbilical cord at birth is equal to the length of the body of the newborn. This organ provides the intake of substances necessary for the development of the fetus, and also contributes to the excretion of products, resulting in metabolism.

The need for fresh air.

Specialists of medical institutions recommend that pregnant women be more often in the fresh air, in nature, and move more often. The baby receives oxygen from the mother's blood, which is why from time to time a woman may experience a lack of air, which can even lead to loss of consciousness.

In the last months of pregnancy, it is best not to go out alone to avoid such an ailment.

A woman who is going to become a mother needs to know a number of other reasons that may cause a lack of oxygen, both in the woman herself, and cause hypoxia (lack of oxygen) in the developing fetus. To do this, you must follow the following important rules, in order to avoid serious problems and pathologies in the baby:

• it is forbidden to take alcohol;
• the use of narcotic substances by the mother is extremely dangerous for the mother and fetus;
• if a woman smoked before pregnancy, then such a habit should be abandoned during pregnancy and later when feeding;
• avoid stressful situations, be calm and not stress;
• take medications with caution. Before you start, you need to read the instructions whether it is allowed to be taken by pregnant women. And it is better to contact a specialist in a medical institution for advice on what is best to take.

It is also worth avoiding bad habits and stress in order to avoid placental insufficiency and early aging of the placenta, which occurs due to exposure to harmful substances, due to the lack of a proper lifestyle for the mother.
Fresh air, trips to nature, hiking, breathing exercises, sleeping in a ventilated room is the key to the absence of problems both in the health of the mother and the health of the unborn baby.

The breath of a child.

In fact, a pregnant woman breathes for two, that is, for herself and, of course, for her baby. It is for this reason, as mentioned above, that a woman may not have enough oxygen, to the point that she will begin to avoid closed stuffy rooms. But even if a woman is close to fainting, she should not feel fear for the fetus, because thanks to the placenta, nothing will happen to the baby, and he will not experience inconvenience. While in the woman's stomach, the baby slowly prepares to breathe with the lungs, even taking into account the fact that the mouth of the fetus is in a closed state. With the onset of the beginning of the second trimester of pregnancy, the fetus tries to make respiratory movements, along with an acceleration in the pace of its development. At this stage, the baby is gaining weight and height, and is even able to hear his mother's voice. Together with such achievements, the first skills and attempts to breathe are acquired.

And when approaching the end of pregnancy (the total period is forty weeks), the expectant mother gets the impression that her child often hiccups inside, but in fact this is not hiccups in the fetus at all, he just tries to use breathing movements, so to speak, masters breathing training . The final formation of the lungs in the fetus is carried out by the 34th week of pregnancy. It is at this time that the most important component is produced - surfactant, which is responsible for the complete opening of the lungs at the birth of a baby.

In conclusion, I would like to add that knowing how a child breathes in the womb, you can safely enjoy your interesting position, with the knowledge of what a pregnant woman should do, and what is categorically contraindicated during the period of bearing a child, in order to avoid problems for a woman who can have a bad effect on the unborn baby.

Mom bent over the crib, looks at the sleeping baby and can't get enough of it. This is her baby, her baby, her blood. Mom examines cute features, kisses tiny fingers, listens to the baby's breathing ...

Without breath there is no life

Respiration is an important physiological process by which oxygen enters the body and carbon dioxide exits. Breathing gives a person energy for life. Not a single living being on our planet can live without breathing. A person without air lives a maximum of 5-9 minutes. World records have been set for staying in an airless space up to 18 minutes, and then after special training.

The process of human breathing is divided into two stages. When you inhale, air enters the lungs through the airways, which is separated in the blood into oxygen and carbon dioxide. The second stage involves the saturation of the body with oxygen. Oxygen is carried by the arterial blood from the lungs to all organs. Venous blood collects carbon dioxide in the lungs, which is released during exhalation.

Biologists and physicians have proven the possibility of curing various diseases with the help of special breathing exercises. In Russia and the countries of the world, the methods of V. F. Frolov, A. N. Strelnikova, K. P. Buteyko, I. P. Neumyvakin, V. N. Khrustalev are known, which proved that proper frequent breathing helps to overcome diseases, improve well-being and even build. Children can be taught proper breathing from the age of two.

Respiratory system of babies

In infancy, this system is of particular importance. Not all organs have yet developed and work fully, so the breath of a newborn becomes a life-supporting moment in the body of the crumbs.

Almost all systems of an infant, including the respiratory system, differ from the corresponding systems of an adult, their work has age-specific features that provide the desired age regimen.

The upper and lower airways of an infant are too small for adequate deep breathing. The nose and nasopharynx are short and narrow, so even a small mote causes the baby to sneeze, and a slight runny nose becomes dangerous due to hyperemia of the mucous layer and a decrease in the lumen of the nasal passages and larynx. Not only diseases, but also dust and small specks, getting into a tiny nose, cause sniffling, whistling, snoring.

That is why it is necessary to clean the baby's nose in time and make every effort to prevent colds and viral diseases. Dangerous at this age are rhinitis, bronchitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis and any other inflammation. The best preventive action to protect against disease, as well as to develop the respiratory muscles and improve breathing, are massage and gymnastics.

The specificity of the breathing of infants

All tiny systems and organs of the newborn work in an enhanced mode. At birth, the body is not formed, the respiratory organs are anatomically and physiologically immature, and the child's body works, grows, develops. Even the pulse rate in a baby is about 140 beats / min, that is, almost twice as much as in an adult.

The respiratory system of a newborn is not yet mature, it works in an enhanced mode. Normally, the pulse in infants reaches 140 beats / min.

Musculature at birth is weak, airways with a narrow lumen, small ribs do not help breathing, babies do not get deep breaths. Therefore, babies have to use rapid breathing to provide themselves with oxygen. Babies do not know how to breathe evenly, their frequent breathing is superficial, uneven.

The underdevelopment of the structure of the organs makes the breathing of the crumbs superficial, short of breath, irregular, jerky, tense, with possible respiratory failure. But every day of the first years of life there is a growth and improvement of the department, and at about 7 years these organs are fully formed.

Pace

Most often, the baby takes two or three short breaths, then one deep. This is normal for a 1-6 month old baby, but an increase in the frequency of inhalations and exhalations to 40-60 times per minute is required to fully provide the baby with oxygen. At 9-12 months, the baby's inhalations and exhalations become uniform, rhythmic, calm.

If the baby breathes without tension, without noises and groans, does not inflate the wings of the spout, then this is the norm. Otherwise, show the baby to the doctor.

The norm is the smooth breathing of the child, without noise, sips, tension. The spout does not swell, it should not be blocked

Frequency

The number of breaths in one minute is calculated by the movement of the chest when the baby is at rest. The resulting respiratory rate of the child is compared with the table, which contains the norms for children under one year old.

• from birth to two weeks ─ 40-60 breaths per minute;
• from 2 weeks to 3 months - 40-45;
• from 4 months to six months - 35-40;
• from 7 months to a year old - 30-36.

For comparison: the respiratory rate of an adult is 16-20 per minute, during sleep ─ 12-14.

By counting the frequency of respiratory movements, or RPV, the pediatrician determines the type, depth, rhythm of breathing, as well as whether the chest, abdominal wall, and cardiovascular system as a whole are working properly. It makes sense for parents to calculate whether the frequency corresponds to medical indicators, since a failure may indicate the onset of the disease.

Type of breath

Defined as thoracic, abdominal and mixed:

• chest type is characterized by movements of the chest;
• abdominal ─ movements of the diaphragm and abdominal wall,
• mixed ─ the chest and diaphragm work.

In the first case, the lower part of the lungs is not sufficiently ventilated, in the second - the tops, as a result of which congestion syndrome is possible. The mixed type of respiratory movements due to the expansion of the chest and movements of the abdominal wall ventilates the lungs in all directions.

Violations

Rhythm or frequency disturbances signal pathologies that are asymptomatic in infants or are signs of any disorders.

So, the syndrome of respiratory disorders can occur on the 1-3 day of the life of the crumbs in the hospital. But here neonatologists, pediatricians, obstetricians will undoubtedly help the newborn.

Sometimes the mother is frightened by the sounds that the baby makes with the nose, throat, nasopharynx, and lungs.

The baby wheezes, breathes with difficulty, his breathing is quickened, while he is naughty, he has no appetite - show the child to the doctor

If the baby is healthy, breathes without effort, silently, then the airways are functioning normally. Discuss all extraneous sounds with the attending pediatrician in order to avoid big problems.

• The baby wheezes, whistles, groans - it means that the breathing tubes are narrowed, the air passes with difficulty. In addition, such sounds appear as a result of inflammation, spasms, infections, edema, and foreign bodies. A sign of serious problems with difficulty breathing is blue around the mouth, drowsiness, inability to make sounds. Urgently call an ambulance, do not pull.
• Along with wheezing, a cough and a runny nose appeared ─ it means that the baby has caught a cold. Rapid breathing, it is difficult for the baby to inhale and exhale, he is naughty, does not eat ─ call the local doctor, perhaps this is a bronchial disease.
• Nasal obstruction syndrome results in nasal congestion and can be a disorder.
• Sometimes gurgling is heard from the respiratory tract. This is saliva that the baby does not have time to swallow, accumulates in the neck and creates gurgling sounds when air passes. This syndrome soon disappears.
• A fairly common disorder, when a child snores in a dream, inhales through the mouth more often than through the nose, ─ this is another of the disorders and also a reason for a visit to the doctor, adenoids may be enlarged.
• The child suffocates if he chokes, or breathes very quickly and freezes. This is normal for babies under 6 months old, but be sure to tell your doctor about this.
• Stopping breathing for a few seconds happens quite often in tiny children. This scares moms, they don’t know what to do, but everything usually goes away on its own. Take the baby upright, sprinkle cold water in the face, give fresh air, pat on the back and ass.
• Apnea Syndrome ─ a frightening pause in breathing for 10 to 20 seconds, then breathing is restored.

Short pauses during sleep often occur in infants, but it is imperative to warn the doctor.

Norm

• The frequent appearance of extraneous sounds when inhaling while the baby is developing normally and gaining weight, do not let it scare you, the baby will outgrow this by 1.5 years.
• In a joyfully excited state, with a strong interest or during physical activity, the baby begins to breathe rapidly. This is the natural state.
• In a dream, a newborn can wheeze, gurgle, purr, grunt, sing like a bird, and all these normal breathing sounds do not cause disorders, but are due to the still imperfect structure of the nasopharynx.

We know that people and animals on Earth breathe oxygen, and carbon dioxide is considered unnecessary, we exhale it. In fact, carbon dioxide is no less important than oxygen, because oxygen gives us energy, burns organic matter, and carbon dioxide is involved in the regulation of metabolism. When breathing, before going out on exhalation, carbon dioxide is involved in the life of the body. It calms the nervous system, dilates blood vessels, anesthetizes, synthesizes amino acids, promotes breathing.

And further. It turns out that with a strong, loud cry, the baby's lungs suffer - they literally burst. A baby may cry if he is hungry or cold and unwell. Let's take care of the babies so they don't have to rip their lungs out.

During the examination of a newborn child, it is necessary to evaluate his breathing. It includes such indicators as the uniformity of respiratory movements and their frequency, rhythm and depth, as well as the type of breathing, the process of exhalation and inhalation, and the sounds accompanying breathing.

It is best to determine the respiratory rate, as well as its rhythm, using the bell of a phonendoscope, brought to the child's nose.

To assess the nature of respiratory disorders in a newborn, it is necessary to know its standards (frequency, rhythm, depth, inhalation and exhalation ratio, breath holding, etc.).

The breathing of a healthy newborn varies both in frequency and depth. The average respiratory rate per minute during sleep ranges from 30 to 50 (during wakefulness - 50-70). The rhythm of breathing during the day is not regular. During sleep, due to the reduced excitability of the respiratory center, the nature of breathing in a newborn is very similar to Cheyne-Stokes. It is characterized by a gradual decrease in the depth of respiratory excursions and the onset of a respiratory pause (apnea), the duration of which can vary from 1 to 6 seconds (in a premature baby from 5 to 12 seconds). Subsequently, breathing compensatory speeds up and gradually recovers to normal. A similar phenomenon in the neonatal period is explained by the immaturity of the respiratory center that regulates respiration, and is not considered a pathology.

The child may occasionally take a deep breath followed by a short pause. It is believed that such breaths perform an anti-atelectatic function. In addition, the anatomical and physiological features of the nose in a newborn (narrowness of the nasal passages, underdevelopment of its cavities, absence of a lower nasal passage and good blood supply) in combination with the impossibility of breathing through the mouth (the tongue pushes the epiglottis posteriorly) create great resistance to the air inhaled and exhaled through the nose. This contributes to the appearance of a kind of "snoring" when the child breathes, swelling and tension of the wings of the nose. For some parents, this phenomenon causes concern. In these cases, the local pediatrician should explain to the mother the mechanism of these symptoms and reassure her that they are transient.

An increase in respiratory rate of more than 10% of the average is regarded as dyspnea, which bears the name tachypnea or polypnoea. Tachypcoe is characterized by frequent respiratory movements, quickly and regularly following each other. It can be constant (even at rest) or it can appear during crying or feeding.

On examination, it is easy to determine whether there is tachypnea or not. However, in order to avoid errors, it is necessary to determine not only the respiratory rate, but also the pulse rate (heart rate) with their subsequent comparison. One breath accounts for 3-4 systoles. Each significant increase in breathing, which correlates with the corresponding tachycardia, gives reason to suspect a disease of the respiratory system.

Normally, an increase in respiration occurs when:

• high ambient temperature;
• excitement and crying;
• motor restlessness;
• overheating of the child;
• increase in body temperature.

Tachypnea is often accompanied by the participation of accessory muscles in breathing, which is a manifestation of a number of pathological conditions. These primarily include:

• diseases of the respiratory system (pulmonary dyspnea);
• diseases of the cardiovascular system (cardiac dyspnea). This type of shortness of breath in a newborn is often an early and permanent sign of cardiovascular insufficiency. It is so pronounced that it is perceived as a symptom characteristic of a lung disease. This applies to those heart diseases that a district pediatrician may encounter in practical life.

Less commonly, tachypnea occurs with:

• violations of the activity of the central nervous system of a functional and organic nature (nervous or centrogenic dyspnea);
• acute hemolytic anemia (hematogenous dyspnea).

Special types of shortness of breath noted in heart disease:

• congenital fibroelastosis;
• idiopathic hypertrophy of the heart;
• Fallot disease.

A feature of shortness of breath in these diseases are dyspnea-cyanotic attacks, the occurrence of which is associated with the depletion of the pulmonary circulation.

Shortness of breath in a newborn by nature may be:

• inspiratory;
• mixed and predominantly expiratory.

Inspiratory dyspnea It is characterized by a difficult sonorous breath and occurs when there are obstructions in the upper respiratory tract or when they are narrowed. It occurs at:

• foreign body aspiration;
• rhinitis;
• acute laryngitis (false croup);
• Pierre Robin syndrome;
• congenital stridor (if congenital stridor is suspected, thymomegaly or congenital heart disease must be ruled out first);
• hyperplasia of the thymus, etc.

With this type of dyspnea, forced inspiration occurs with vigorous contraction of the sternocleidomastoid muscle and other accessory respiratory muscles.

Mixed and predominantly expiratory dyspnea. In the neonatal period in its pure form, expiratory dyspnea does not occur. Most often we are talking about shortness of breath of a mixed nature with a greater or lesser predominance of expiratory. With it, both phases of respiratory movements (inhalation and exhalation) are difficult, with a greater or lesser predominance of one of them. Typical for a decrease in the respiratory surface of the lungs. Occurs at:

• pneumonia;
• pleurisy;
• pneumothorax;
• broncho-obstructive syndrome;
• diaphragmatic hernia;
• flatulence, etc.

Even a slight swelling of the wings of the nose and cheeks indicates the appearance of respiratory disorders. Therefore, the diagnostic value of these symptoms is great.

According to the degree of its severity, shortness of breath can be mild or severe. Mild shortness of breath is characterized by the fact that the respiratory failure occurs only with anxiety, crying or feeding the child (physical stress). At the same time, she is absent at rest. With severe shortness of breath, respiratory failure is noted already at rest and sharply increases with the slightest physical exertion. Participation in the act of breathing of auxiliary muscles and retraction of the jugular fossa during breathing are signs of severe shortness of breath.

Rapidly developing and very severe shortness of breath, in which the child literally suffocates and is close to asphyxia, is called suffocation. Choking can develop when:

• acute laryngitis (false croup);
• acute pulmonary edema;
• pneumothorax;
• broncho-obstructive syndrome.

Shortness of breath, accompanied by groaning (grunting, stenotic), arrhythmic and shallow breathing with retraction of compliant parts of the chest and participation in breathing of auxiliary muscles, cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle and acrocyanosis, indicates that the child has developed respiratory failure.

Respiratory failure in a newborn is a state of the body in which either the normal gas composition of the blood is not maintained, or the latter is achieved due to the abnormal operation of the “external respiration” apparatus, leading to a decrease in the functional capabilities of the body.

There are four degrees of respiratory failure in a newborn:

Respiratory failure I degree characterized by the fact that at rest, either there are no signs of it, or its clinical manifestations are slightly expressed and appear with a cry (anxiety) in the form of moderate shortness of breath, perioral cyanosis and tachycardia.

For respiratory failure II degree at rest, there are: moderate shortness of breath (the number of breaths increases by 25% compared to the norm), tachycardia, pallor of the skin and perioral cyanosis.

Respiratory failure III degree characterized by the fact that at rest breathing is not only quickened (by more than 50%), but it is also superficial. There is cyanosis of the skin with an earthy tint and sticky sweat.

Respiratory failure IV degree- hypoxic coma. Loss of consciousness. Breathing is arrhythmic, periodic, superficial. There is general cyanosis (acrocyanosis), swelling of the jugular veins.

Reducing the number of breaths less than 30 in 1 minute is called bradypnea. Normally, bradypnea is physiological breathing during sleep, when breathing becomes slow and deep.

In pathological conditions, bradypnea is considered as a severe violation of the mechanisms of regulation of respiration. It can be observed independently in diseases of the central nervous system and autonomic disorders, as well as combined with diseases accompanied by shortness of breath.

Pathological disturbances of the normal respiratory rhythm (such as Cheyne-Stokes, Biot) are expressed in various types of respiratory arrest. Most often found with:

• diseases of the central nervous system - encephalitis, meningitis, convulsions, dropsy of the brain, abscesses, cerebral hemorrhages, intracranial or spinal trauma;
• diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Unlike the Cheyne-Stokes type of breathing, in which the normal type of breathing is restored gradually, the Biot type of breathing is accompanied by an instantaneous restoration of the normal breathing rhythm.

Kussmaul breathing is characterized by deep, regular, but rare breathing, due to which the body tries to remove excess carbon dioxide through the lungs (acidosis breathing). A similar type of breathing in newborns occurs when:

• suffocation syndrome;
• primary infectious toxicosis.

Newborns may experience the so-called " the breath of a hunted animal", which is expressed by an increase in, and most importantly, a deepening of respiratory movements without pauses. It can be observed in a newborn child with:

• exicosis III degree;
• meningitis.

In pathological conditions, violations of the normal respiratory rhythm occur most often with:

• diseases of the central nervous system - encephalitis, meningitis, hydrocephalus, tumors and brain abscess;
• intracranial hemorrhages.

In these cases, breathing often acquires a Cheyne-Stokes character and less often of a Biot type.

Apnea attacks can occur:

• in premature babies;
• in children with hemorrhages in the central nervous system;
• with congenital diaphragmatic hernia;
• with esophagotracheal fistula (attacks are accompanied by cough and cyanosis with each attempt to feed or when taking liquids);
• in severe forms of obstructive rhinitis, when the secret completely blocks the nose.

When a child has apnea attacks against the background of a coma in the absence of any other objective data, one should first think about drug poisoning.

A variety of respiratory disorders in combination with jaundice, neurological symptoms, anorexia, diarrheal syndrome, vomiting, hepatosplenomegaly can occur with the manifestation of a number of hereditary metabolic diseases.

Any respiratory disorders in a newborn child are grounds for suspecting a serious illness, the differential diagnosis of which is possible only in a hospital setting.