When a Newborn Starts Breathing

In most cases, babies start crying spontaneously after they are born, but not all babies cry right away. When babies cry out loudly it is something that makes the medical staff feel very happy, as it is an indicator that the baby is doing what is necessary to breathe. However, this does not mean that a soft cry is not an indicator that the baby is not breathing well. Some babies still have normal breathing even if they do not cry out loudly.

In cases in which a baby is not quick to start breathing spontaneously, you will notice that the doctor and nurse or midwife will stimulate the baby by rubbing his or her back, by drying the baby or by giving little pats on the bottom of the baby’s feet. Contrary to the traditional stereotype that the doctor holds the baby upside down and gives the baby a slap on the bottom in order to cause this first burst of tears.

Remember that while you were pregnant, your baby received air through the placenta. After the delivery the baby now needs to assume the breathing function by using his or her own lungs. While the baby is inside the mother’s womb, a special liquid covers the lungs and this liquid is often times expelled during labor. There are times though in which the baby needs time and some extra help such as in the form of suction or stimulus to get rid of the liquid.

Don’t worry if you notice your baby does not breathe the same way you do. Most babies breathe between thirty and forty times per minute, and the respiratory rhythm of newborns can also increase when there is physical activity involved. Newborns breathe through their noses and not their mouths, which is something wonderful because it trains them to get used to breathing this way for when they need to drink from the breast or bottle.

You may also notice that your baby’s abdomen is unusually large, but don’t worry, this is a normal newborn baby’s tummy. The fact that when the baby breathes it goes up and down in such a notorious way and distends when the baby takes air in makes the effect more obvious. However this is all normal because babies need to use their diaphragms to breathe, not the muscles of their chest like older children and adults use.