Baby breathing fast while feeding

When to see a doctor

It is normal for babies to breathe faster than adults and older children. Some infants briefly breathe more quickly than usual or stop breathing for several seconds. As long as their breathing returns to a normal rate, it is not usually a cause for concern.

If a baby continues to breathe rapidly, it may mean they are struggling to get enough air.

This article looks at the normal breathing rate for babies, the causes of fast breathing, and when to see a doctor.

A baby’s regular rate of breathing is about triple an adult’s rate. While an infant’s breathing rate may seem rapid, it is only abnormal if it exceeds 60 breaths per minute.

Very young babies may have “periodic breathing of infancy.” This means that their rate of breathing might not be consistent and regular. They can stop breathing for several seconds, then take several rapid breaths before returning to a more regular breathing rate.

A young infant who breathes irregularly, or briefly breathes faster than usual, is usually okay as long as the rate of breathing returns to 30–60 breaths per minute, and there are no other signs of breathing issues.

Every infant is different, but a normal healthy range for the first year of life is 30–60 breaths per minute.

Breathing usually slows when a baby is sleeping to around 30–40 breaths per minute. It may increase when a baby cries or plays.

Breathing gradually slows as a baby gets older, so parents or caregivers may notice that their 10- or 11-month-old breathes more slowly than they once did. Between the ages of 1–3, breathing slows to 24–40 breaths per minute.

Babies rapidly breathe when something affects their respiratory system, such as not getting enough oxygen. Doctors call rapid breathing tachypnea.

When a baby exerts themselves, such as during crawling or crying, they need more oxygen, so their breathing rate may increase. This is usually harmless as long as their breathing returns to its regular rate.

Here are a few reasons why a baby might breathe rapidly.

Transient tachypnea of the newborn

Transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) is a condition that occurs in newborns, especially those born before 39 weeks.

It develops when there is a delay in the baby’s ability to clear fluid from the lungs after birth. This makes it difficult for them to get enough oxygen, which may lead to respiratory distress.

Unlike other causes of respiratory distress, TTN usually goes away on its own within 3 days of symptoms first occurring.

Treatment depends on the severity of symptoms and how long they last. The baby may need medication, oxygen, or a stay in a neonatal intensive care unit for monitoring.

Crying or distress

Babies sometimes breathe more rapidly when they are in pain or distress. For example, an infant may breathe faster when they are fussy and upset after an immunization, or when they are hungry and cannot immediately nurse or get a bottle.

Parents and caregivers should act quickly to comfort distressed babies.

A brief increase above 60 breaths per minute due to distress or crying is safe, as long as the breathing rate returns to normal.

If an infant’s breathing does not slow, or if they seem to be hyperventilating or having trouble breathing, there may be another problem.

Overheating

Babies who are hot may breathe faster. Overheating is dangerous and may lead to dehydration and other problems.

Infants cannot cool themselves as well as older children and adults, so keep young babies out of direct sunlight and hot temperatures. Dress babies in light layers.

If a baby breathes rapidly in heat, they might not sweat, or only sweat in small amounts.

Give the baby formula or allow them to nurse, and move them to a cooler area immediately. If they continue breathing rapidly even after a parent or caregiver attempts cooling, call a doctor.

Respiratory distress

Respiratory distress means that the baby is struggling to breathe. Left untreated, it can become life threatening.

Several conditions can cause respiratory distress, including:

Prematurity: The underdeveloped lungs of premature babies make it more difficult for them to breathe.
Infections and illnesses: Certain illnesses can make it hard to breathe. For example, a lung infection could make breathing more difficult in babies than in older children and adults.
Aspiration: This occurs when a baby inhales fluid. It is more common among newborns, who may aspirate fluid during birth.
Physical injuries: Damage to the baby’s lungs or other parts of their respiratory system may cause them to breathe more rapidly as they try to get air.

Respiratory distress is a medical emergency. Some other symptoms a baby might have include:

flaring their nostrils when breathing
breathing louder than usual
pulling in their chest muscles to breathe, causing the ribs to become more visible when they take a breath
clammy skin
open mouth
seeming lethargic or restless
changes in behavior
fever
head-bobbing when breathing
changes in the color of the baby’s skin, lips, tongue, or nail beds

See a doctor immediately if there are any signs of respiratory distress. If a person’s regular doctor is not available, call 911 or go to the emergency room.

Some other reasons to call a doctor include:

an otherwise healthy-seeming baby breathes faster than usual for a prolonged period
a baby has a fever and rapid breathing
a newborn has changes in their breathing, especially if they were born prematurely
a baby has trouble eating
the baby is unable to settle after crying

Babies breathe differently from adults and children. Their breathing patterns may seem scary or unusual and are fast compared to adults. This rapid breathing itself does not mean something is wrong.

However, if a baby appears to be breathing faster than they usually do, this could indicate a serious issue, and people should call a doctor.

What’s Normal and When You Should See a Doctor

Because newborns have developing lungs and weaker muscles, their typical breathing pattern may appear fast. Heavy breathing, coughing, and whistling sounds may be signs of a breathing problem.

You might notice your newborn breathing fast, even while sleeping. Babies can also take long pauses between each breath or make noises while breathing.

Most of these come down to a baby’s physiology. Babies have smaller lungs, weaker muscles, and breathe mostly through their noses. As newborns, babies are just learning to breathe, since the umbilical cord delivered all of their oxygen straight to their body by way of their blood while in the womb.

A child’s lungs are not fully developed until they are around 8 years old.

Newborns breathe a lot faster than older babies, kids, and adults. They may initially breathe irregularly before developing a regular breathing pattern.

Newborns younger than 6 months take about 40-60 breaths per minute. That looks pretty fast if you’re watching them.

Breathing may slow down to 30 breaths per minute while newborns sleep. In periodic breathing, a newborn’s breathing may stop for 5 to 10 seconds and then begin again more rapidly — around 40 to 60 breaths per minute — for 10 to 15 seconds. They shouldn’t pause more than 10 seconds between breaths, even when resting.

Familiarize yourself with your newborn’s typical breathing pattern while they’re healthy and relaxed. This can help you notice if things ever change.

Fast breathing by itself may not be a cause for concern, but there are a few things to pay attention to. Once you have a sense of your newborn’s usual breathing pattern, you can watch closely for signs of change.

A sick newborn will look and act differently than they usually do. But it can be difficult to know what’s typical when you’ve only known your baby for a few weeks. Over time, as you get to know your baby better, your confidence may grow.

You can call a doctor whenever you have questions or concerns. Most offices have an on-call nurse who can offer tips and guidance.

Call a doctor or go for a walk-in appointment for any of the following:

trouble sleeping or eating
extreme fussiness
deep cough
barking cough
fever above 100. 4°F or 38°C (seek immediate care if your baby is under 3 months)

If your newborn has any of the following signs, seek immediate care:

trouble catching their breath
breathing faster than 60 breaths per minute
grunting at the end of each breath
nostrils flaring
breathing with difficulty, such as the muscles pulling in under the ribs or around the neck
blue or grayish tinge to the skin, especially around the mouth, head, and central body
trouble crying
dehydration from lack of eating

Recognizing an emergency

If a newborn is having significant difficulty breathing or has a blue or gray tinge to the skin, you should seek emergency medical care by calling 911 or your local emergency services.

Newborns may experience breathing difficulties due to a heart condition, infection, or another health condition.

Newborn breathing problems can include:

deep cough, which may be a sign of mucus or infection in the lungs
whistling noise or snoring, which may require suctioning mucus from the nose
barking and hoarse cry that could indicate croup
fast, heavy breathing which could potentially be fluid in the airways from pneumonia or transient tachypnea
wheezing which could stem from bronchiolitis
persistent dry cough, which may signal an allergy
when a newborn stops breathing for at least 20 seconds, which can be a sign of apnea

Premature newborns may have underdeveloped lungs and be more likely to have problems breathing.

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), newborns delivered before 32 weeks of pregnancy may develop neonatal respiratory distress syndrome.

Full-term babies delivered by cesarean are at increased risk for other breathing issues right after birth, such as transient tachypnea of the newborn. This condition typically resolves within 3 days after birth, the NHLBI notes.

If your newborn has been diagnosed with either condition, a doctor can discuss what signs you need to monitor.

Remember that coughing is a natural reflex that protects your baby’s airways and keeps germs out. If you’re concerned about your newborn’s breathing, monitor them over a few hours. You’ll soon be able to tell if it’s a mild cold or something more serious.

If your newborn is sick, you may want to contact a doctor. It can be difficult to tell how sick a newborn is.

Take a video of any worrisome behavior to show a doctor. You may be able to communicate with a doctor or pediatrician online or through an app for faster communication.

In a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency services or take your newborn to the nearest emergency room.

If a doctor advises home care for a mild cold, the follow tips may help:

keep them hydrated
use saline drops to help clear mucus
prepare a warm bath or run a hot shower and sit in the steamy bathroom
play calming music
rock your baby in their favorite position
ensure your baby gets enough sleep

If your newborn does not improve or their condition worsens, contact a doctor.

You should not use vapor rub as a treatment for children younger than age 2.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends putting babies to sleep flat on their backs for the best breathing support.

It might be difficult to settle your baby down on their back when they’re sick, but it remains the safest sleeping position.

Takeaway

Any irregular breathing in your child can be very alarming. Watch your baby and learn about their typical behavior so that you can act quickly if you notice that they’re having trouble breathing.

If you have concerns about your newborn’s breathing, it may be best to contact a doctor or visit an immediate care facility or emergency room, depending on the severity.

The baby gets tired quickly when feeding and breathes often: symptoms, diagnosis

With the advent of the baby, all the mother's attention is focused on feeding the baby. After all, I really want the baby to gain weight well. But often during feeding, a woman notices that the baby gets tired quickly. In such a situation, the baby's breathing quickens, which prevents him from eating the prescribed norm. If such a picture is observed with frightening frequency, it is necessary to find out the cause of the problem.

In pediatric cardiology, there are several important signs that indicate heart problems in a young patient. The children's cardiologist of the multidisciplinary center "Edkarik" will be able to figure out what caused the difficulties in feeding. At the first negative symptoms in the baby, parents should contact us to exclude the presence of a serious heart pathology in the crumbs.

Features of breathing in infants

It should be noted right away that difficulty breathing during feeding is not always an indicator of an existing heart pathology. Such a symptom is typical for respiratory diseases, breathing difficulties may be associated with structural features of the nasal septum. This problem is often observed in the first weeks due to undeveloped breasts in the mother. The child has to make every effort to get the right portion of food. Therefore, he quickly gets tired, and his breathing goes astray from the normal rhythm.

The breathing of children in the first months of life has its own characteristics. Babies need twice the amount of oxygen, but their respiratory system is not yet completely formed. Certain difficulties in the respiratory function are imposed by narrow nasal passages and weakness of the pectoral muscles. Therefore, breathing in children up to a year is uneven. The child often takes quick breaths, so his breathing is shallow and intermittent.

The norm of respiratory movements in babies of the first month of life is 40-60, from the end of the fourth week and up to 3 months - up to 45, in the period of 4-6 months - 35-40. By the year, the baby is already taking about 30-35 breaths per minute, which is considered the norm.

Mom can determine the respiratory rate on her own. To do this, put the baby on his back, and use a stopwatch to count the number of breaths. Since babies "breathe" with their tummies, such a calculation is easy to make. The main condition for performing this procedure is that the child must be calm.

When there is no reason to worry

The nervous system of young children is still imperfect, so they cannot control their breathing. During active games and crying, the frequency of respiratory movements increases, and in a dream they often sniffle. If such features are observed sporadically, you should not worry. The sniffing nose can be washed with boiled water, and then carefully remove the dried mucus.

What should cause alarm

You need to see a doctor if the baby:

holds his breath for a long time;
exhales noisily;
if breathing is accompanied by wheezing and wheezing.

Typically, such symptoms can be traced against the background of an acute period of respiratory diseases. Timely treatment will help to quickly eliminate these negative signs, after which the child will be able to breastfeed normally again.

Which symptoms require special attention

We have listed physiological breathing problems. But sometimes the situation is much more serious than the usual runny nose. We list the signs that should be a strong argument for parents to urgently visit a pediatric cardiologist.

Cyanosis

If holding the breath during feeding is accompanied by a blue nasolabial triangle, this sign indicates a lack of oxygen. In severe forms of cardiac pathologies, the chin and fingers of the baby turn blue. This symptom is characteristic of congenital malformations of both the heart and vascular anomalies.

Shortness of breath

This symptom also indicates a lack of oxygen. Since the child has to expend more energy during sucking, this symptom is more pronounced than at rest. A cause for concern can be considered frequent breaks for rest during suckling. Normally, there are no more than two such pauses, and a child with heart disease takes breaks after 2-3 sips.

Fatigue

Infants with congenital heart defects are much less active than healthy children. They are not able to suck out the norm during feeding, so they lose weight. The problem is aggravated by frequent breathing. The child simply suffocates under tension.

Chest pain

Infants may not complain of such a symptom, but an observant mother will notice under what circumstances and how often the child begins to worry.

If all the described signs are repeated from the baby during feeding regularly, it is urgent to consult a pediatric cardiologist. A full-scale examination will determine the cause of the problem, and an experienced pediatric cardiologist will prescribe adequate therapy for the child.

Peculiarities of diagnosing infants

Babies under one year old cannot describe the symptoms that prevent them from developing normally. Therefore, all hope for an objective examination. During the initial examination of the infant, a pediatric cardiologist:

evaluates the general condition;
notes the color of the skin;
listens to the baby's heart;
performs heart rate monitoring and saturation level measurement.

The doctor pays special attention to taking an anamnesis, since such information can indicate the cause of the problem. For example, an infection transmitted by a woman during her mother's pregnancy can provoke the development of congenital heart defects. An important factor is heredity, especially if there were cases of premature death (up to 50 years) among close relatives in the family. After collecting the data, the pediatric cardiologist will definitely prescribe the following types of diagnostic procedures:

ECG with daily monitoring;
ultrasound of the heart;
Chest x-ray;
Laboratory tests.

Instrumental methods of examination with the use of modern devices will clarify the parameters of the baby's heart and the features of its anatomical structure. Ultrasound diagnostics helps to identify defects in the heart chambers and great vessels. Having the data of all studies at hand, the pediatric cardiologist will draw up an individual treatment program, or prescribe additional procedures. In severe cardiac pathologies and rhythm disturbances, the question of a surgical way to eliminate the problem can be decided.

Examination and treatment in the center "Edkarik"

Among our guarantees:

professionalism of doctors;
high quality service;
comfortable conditions in the clinic;
individual approach;
a wide range of services;
accompanying patients during the rehabilitation period.

Our clinic is known not only in Kaliningrad, but also in other regions of the country. Parents and their kids will feel comfortable in our center, because there is everything you need to make sick children feel at home with us. You can make an appointment with a pediatric cardiologist on the official website of our center. There are also contact numbers where parents can consult on issues of concern to them.

Breathe to eat?!

08/15/2016

The topic of breastfeeding is very relevant both for those who are just preparing to become a mother, and for those who are already clutching their first child to their breasts. Mother's milk is truly the best food that can only be offered to a child up to a year old. It helps the baby grow healthy and strengthens his immunity. That is why it is especially necessary for a child in the first six months of life. Breast milk contains all the necessary nutrients for the baby, and in the optimal ratio and form, adapted to the characteristics of the digestive system of the newborn. In addition, it is rich in vitamins, enzymes, minerals and contributes to the creation of the necessary conditions for the formation of the "correct" intestinal microbial biocenosis.

In addition, during breastfeeding there is direct communication between mother and child, which contributes to the formation of a positive emotional bond between them. The very act of sucking is extremely important for the baby. Sucking for an infant is a need and a pleasure that is not directly related to the feeling of hunger. Thanks to sucking, the baby develops the jaw apparatus, muscles of the mouth and tongue, which is especially important in the future, for example, in the development of speech.

But sometimes the process of feeding may not go as smoothly as a mother would like. One of the most common reasons a baby refuses to breastfeed is difficulty in breathing through the nose. A significant role in the development of this condition is given to the physiological characteristics of the nasal mucosa of the newborn, as well as the anatomical features of the child's nose. In an infant, the nasal passages are much wider and shorter, the mucous lining the nasal cavity is thickened and rich in a dense network of blood vessels, while the number of glands that produce mucus is not yet large. Even a small swelling of the mucosa can block nasal breathing. During breastfeeding, the baby has to suck and breathe at the same time, and if the nose is clogged, it is simply impossible to combine these processes. If the baby does not breathe through the nose, feeding turns into torment - the baby cannot suckle without interruption, because he is suffocating.

The child constantly has to let go of the chest in order to breathe in air through the mouth. This is repeated several times, and as a result, the baby drops the breast. In addition, swallowing air through the mouth contributes to its entry into the stomach, followed by regurgitation of its contents. Frequent regurgitation, in turn, contributes to irritation of the nasal mucosa and nasopharynx with gastric contents and the development of inflammation - rhinitis, which is manifested by prolonged difficulty in nasal breathing.

That is why it is so important for newborns to pay close attention to nasal hygiene to ensure and maintain free nasal breathing. On the Internet, you can find recommendations advising mothers to instill vasoconstrictors for babies in the nose of babies before feeding. Such advice can be useful only if the child has a runny nose, in all other cases, one should be aware of side effects and the inadmissibility of long-term use of such drugs, as well as the need to consult a doctor.

For daily care and cleansing of the nasal mucosa, special products based on natural sea water have been developed. One of these products is the RINOSTOP® AQUA product line.

RINOSTOP® AQUA contains 100% natural sea water, widely known for its beneficial properties. No preservatives, stabilizers or other chemicals that can cause irritation of the nasal mucosa are used in the process of production and purification of water; preserved macro- and microelements of natural sea water (K, Mg, Na, Ca, Cl).

The products of the line are available in bottles of different sizes; equipped with nozzles that take into account the anatomical structure of the nose and provide a continuous spray of water of different intensity - in the form of a jet, shower or soft shower.
The special design of the "BAG-ON-VALVE" bottles allows the use of funds in any position of the bottles with a full consumption of the contents without residue.

RINOSTOP® AQUA BABY is perfect for daily hygiene and moisturizing of little noses from birth. It contains sea water in an isotonic concentration close in its physiological characteristics to human plasma. Micro-diffusion water supply in the form of a soft shower provides: