Baby Is Grunting: Is It Normal
Newborn grunting sounds are generally related to their digestion. Your child is getting familiar with formula or breast milk. They may have gas in their belly, causing discomfort. A newborn grunting usually means they are moving gas and stool through their digestive system.
Due to their weak abdominal muscles, they apply downward pressure using their diaphragm, which pushes against the baby’s closed glottis and results in a grunting noise. Your baby’s face may become red or purple in the process this is completely normal.
However, a baby grunting with every breath isn’t normal and may indicate respiratory distress. A baby grunting with every breath may indicate serious conditions including:
- Asthma
- Nasal flaring
When To Worry About Newborns Grunting During Sleep
You don’t need to swoop in and “save” your baby if they are still sleeping despite strange noises. You should first watch and listen. More often than not, they are only adjusting to their body functions.
But grunting that is accompanied by the following worrisome symptoms needs to be addressed by a pediatrician.
- Breathing difficulties. If you notice labored breathing or when the baby holds their breath longer than 10 seconds.
- Fever.
- Very rapid breathing more than 70 breaths per minute.
- Baby’s face or lips or tongue turn purple.
- Grunting after each breath. This is an emergency.
- Flared nostrils mean that the baby is struggling to breathe in.
- Chest and neck muscles retraction. The muscles seem to work too hard.
- Apparent signs of distress.
Are The Following Breathing Patterns In Newborns Normal
1. The Noisy Breathing Pattern
A loud breather should not be cause for concern. Since babies only breathe through their noses in the first few months, their breathing is usually accompanied by all sorts of wheezes and grunts. However, if you notice any of the following symptoms, consult a doctor immediately:
- Baby feeds poorly.
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Medical Conditions That Can Cause Rapid Breathing
Newborn breathing fast is often seen in the first two days after birth, especially among premature ones. This is a condition known as transient tachypnea.
Symptoms
- Wheezing and grunting when breathing
- Retractions and flaring nostrils when breathing
Causes
While in the womb, your baby gets oxygen and nutrients through the umbilical cord. During this time, the babys lungs are filled with a special fluid which helps the lungs to develop. During labor, the lungs stop producing this fluid and that already in the lungs is reabsorbed or excreted. However, in some cases, the fluid is not totally removed and this is the cause of transient tachypnea.
Rapid breathing in newborns is common in babies born prematurely, born via scheduled caesarean section, and born to a mother who has diabetes, and is more common in males than females.
Treatment
Transient tachypnea usually goes away within one to two days after birth. Treatment in case of newborn breathing fast involves the following:
- Oxygen. The baby will be put on oxygen to stabilize the oxygen levels in blood.
- Antibiotics to keep infections at bay
- IV feeding to provide the baby with the much-needed fluids and nutrients
Other Causes
Some babies, especially those born prematurely, develop pneumonia because their lungs havent developed fully.
Wrapping Up Baby Breathing Patterns
I know that the first few weeks with your baby are nerve-wracking. Remember, true breathing problems are uncommon in newborns. Most of the breathing issues that happen occur in premature babies, so if you had a full term healthy infant, chances are your baby will be okay.
The strange newborn breathing habits that you are seeing are probably normal, and unless they are obviously having some breathing difficulty, its worth pausing for a moment before panicking.
Its definitely worth being concerned about, just try and make an educated decision on what you will do next.
And of courseIf you EVER suspect that your baby is having breathing difficulty, dont wait. Its always better to be safe, and its better to be wrong than to risk your babys life.
Did you know about what normal newborn breathing looked like before having your baby? I would love to hear your thoughts, ideas, and questions in the comment section below.
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What To Do If Baby Has Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea generally presents in the first few days of life, usually within a week. Although sleep apnea has not be identified as a cause of SIDS, it can be serious and even life-threatening.
If it seems like your baby has stopped breathing while sleeping, try touching him/her to see if he/she responds. If there is no response, then your little one may be experiencing sleep apnea, and youll need to respond immediately. According to BabySlumber.com, you should begin infant CPR while another person calls 911. If you are by yourself, then perform infant CPR for two minutes, then call for help. Continue CPR until the paramedics arrive.
As always, if you are concerned about your babys breathing, call a healthcare provider immediately.
What Might Breathing Problems Mean In A Newborn
Babies breathe much faster than older children and adults. A newborn’s normal breathing rate is about 40 to 60 times per minute. This may slow to 30 to 40 times per minute when the baby is sleeping. A babys breathing pattern may also be different. A baby may breathe fast several times, then have a brief rest for less than 10 seconds, then breathe again. This is often called periodic breathing and is normal. Babies normally use their diaphragm, the large muscle below the lungs, for breathing.
Changes in a baby’s breathing rate or pattern, using other muscles and parts of the chest to breathe, or changes in color may mean the baby is having respiratory distress and needs immediate medical attention.
Signs of respiratory problems may include the following:
For any sign of respiratory problems, consult your baby’s healthcare provider immediately.
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When To Take Your Baby To A Doctor
- If your baby is coughing or wheezing.
- If your baby has an elevated temperature.
- If your baby has signs of a cold or other signs of illness.
- If you see the area above or below your babys rib cage being sucked in as they breathe. This can indicate they are using other muscles to get air in and out of their lungs.
- If you are concerned or worried.
Fast Breathing During Sleep
If you have healthy relatives or friends, you can see that their breathing during sleep is very light. In fact, the breathing of the healthy person is noiseless and so quiet, that it may scare some people to death . Vice versa, the breathing of sleeping sick people is easy to hear and see: they have heavy breathing while sleeping, especially when they are sleeping in certain postures .
Numerous medical studies showed that morning hyperventilation leads to higher rates of heart attacks, strokes, epilepsy seizures, acute asthma exacerbations, and so forth, as well as highest mortality rates in comparison with any other part of the day.
Over 180 Russian and Soviet medical doctors invented various methods and techniques to prevent these acute life-threatening states. They also discovered that most symptoms disappear when the person has more than 20 s for the body-oxygen test.
Hyperventilation is breathing more than the medical norm. When our breathing is heavy during sleep, we lack two crucial chemicals in the brain: carbon dioxide and oxygen. Cerebral hypocapnia makes the nerve cells overexcited. Hypocapnia also causes reduced brain perfusion and lowered brain oxygen levels. Reduced blood flow to vital organs and vasoconstriction also leads to poor control of blood glucose, weight gain, headaches, acne and/or other symptoms.
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Get To Know Your Newborn’s Breathing
One of the best things that you can do is simply spend time with your baby and quietly listen to them breathe. Whether they are awake or asleep, make note of the different noises that they make.
Your baby’s breathing sounds can vary depending on what they are doing, such as eating, sleeping, or just being quietly awake. Getting to know those different sounds can save you from mistakenly becoming convinced that something is wrong.
If you have a hospital birth, rooming-in can be advantageous when it comes to learning more about your new baby. If you have questions, a nurse will be readily available to help.
Baby Is Breathing Fast: Is It A Problem
If your baby’s breathing is fast and labored, there may be fluid in the alveoli . Fluid can accumulate in the alveoli due to pneumonia, which is an infection of the lungs that results from bacteria or a virus.
Pneumonia can cause labored, fast breathing, a persistent cough, crackly sounds in the chest . Fast breathing in babies may also occur due to fever or other types of infections. If your baby’s breathing is fast and labored, take them to the doctor immediately.
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What Is The Normal Respiratory Rate For Babies
Bringing a newborn home can be a bit scary for many parents. Though most babies are quite healthy and strong, they still seem fragile and vulnerable.
Many of us watch our sleeping newborns to be sure theyre still breathing. In the absence of genuine health issues, however, we shouldnt obsess over their breathing.
Knowing the normal respiratory rates and patterns for infants can quickly reassure us our babies are well, or help us decide when to contact the doctor.
Respiratory rates for human beings vary with age. Normal ranges are:
- Newborn-6 months: 30-60 beats per minute
- 6-12 months: 24-40 beats per minute
- 1-5 years: 20-30 beats per minute
- 6-12 years: 12-20 beats per minute
- Adults: 12-16 beats per minute.
Baby Breathing Patterns And Sounds While Awake
Now that weve covered the basics, lets talk about all those odd sounds your little one produces. In addition to baby breathing fast, its common for baby to make raspy, snorting, grunting or whistling noises.
To new parents, these noises can be unsettling, but think about your own breathing patterns. You probably dont even realize it, but adults make all kinds of weird noises too! Baby breathing patterns are just as varied as your owntheyll make different sounds, depending on their mood. A happy baby is going to make different sounds than a crying baby.
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Normal Respiratory Rates For A Baby By Age
Every infant is different, but a normal healthy range for the first year of life is 3060 breaths per minute.
Breathing usually slows when a baby is sleeping to around 3040 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 13, breathing slows to 2440 breaths per minute.
Baby Might Be Developing Allergies
Allergens are all around us. What makes one person have a reaction can be completely different than what makes her neighbor have allergies. Babies yet again are just like adults in that they too can be born with, and develop allergies to certain allergens. Allergies, especially severe allergies can cause rapid breathing in an infant, and that should be of concern to the caregiver.
The first step of seeing if the baby may have allergies is to take them to the pediatrician and make sure the baby is not suffering from anything else that may cause rapid breathing. If the pediatrician gives the child a clean bill of health, the parents should try to clean the house really well including the duct work since those often hide many allergens. If a deep cleaning of the house does not improve the childs symptoms it may be time to get the child tested for allergies.
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What Is Sleeps Relationship To Respiratory Rate
Once we fall asleep, the pace at which we breathe is determined by our metabolic rate. Most people breathe more slowly when they are asleep, and breathing evens out and becomes less variable with each successive stage of sleep. However, research shows that we also breathe faster and more erratically during the rapid eye movement sleep stage.
How Can I Count My Babys Respiratory Rate
When clinicians take your vital signs, like your pulse or respiratory rate, you might notice many count for only 15-30 seconds. Then they multiply the number they counted to get an idea of your rate per minute.
Although this quick measurement works well for adults with regular breathing patterns, it doesnt work for infants. Babies, especially newborns, have irregular breathing patterns.
Its important to count their respirations for a full minute to get an accurate respiratory rate.
You can work out your babys respiratory rate by counting each time you see her chest rise, or by placing your hand on her chest and counting each time you feel your hand rising. The number of times her chest rises in 60 seconds will give you her respiratory rate.
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Periodic Breathing And Newborns
Another normal breathing pattern in newborns is called periodic breathing. You’ll notice this marked pattern when your baby is asleep.
When they sleep, babies cycle through rapid breathing, shallow breathing, and short pauses that last between five and 10 seconds.
While it might seem unusual to you, this breathing trend is nothing to be concerned about. It does not affect your baby’s coloring or heart rate.
Normal Newborn Breathing Patterns
Your babys organs arent fully developed when they are born, which is why we see the increased respiratory rate. Their lungs fill up their entire chest cavity, which means they dont have enough room for reserve air.
As your baby grows, this space will increase and their respiratory rate will reduce.
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A Note About Baby Breathing Monitors
Baby breathing monitors, like the Owlet Smart Sock and Baby Monitor or Sproutling, are increasing in popularity, but many experts and healthcare organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics caution against these devices.
In 2011 the WHO cited all radio frequency electromagnetic fields emitted by wireless communication devices as a possible cause of cancer.
Because baby breathing monitors rely on EMF to work, the use of these devices may put baby at unnecessary risk of exposure. Dr. Magda Harvas, an Associate Professor of Environmental & Resource Studies, says wearable baby monitors that use Bluetooth are especially harmful, because the transmitter is placed right against the body.
The AAP also cautions against using the monitors as a method for preventing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome , given that research has not shown a clear link between apneawhen a babys breathing stops brieflyand SIDS. Even full-term newborns in the first few weeks of life may have brief periods of apnea, the AAP noted. But this is not linked to SIDS.
The point being that most babies dont need sleep monitors, Adrienne Lafrance wrote in a 2016 article for The Atlantic.
If you do want to use a baby monitor, the safest option is to wire an intercom through your homes electrical system.
Analog monitors that use the FM radio band, usually 40 Mhz are considered to be safer than digital monitors that transmit via Bluetooth, WiFi -2.4 Ghz or DECT. Dr. Magda Havas
Why Is My Baby Gasping Or Sobbing In Her Sleep
- Pin275
If its 3:30am and youre googling why is my baby gasping or sobbing in her sleep? DO NOT PANIC. Its probably normal.
If your baby is making a sound like she had been crying hard but shes completely asleep, you probably dont need to worry.
My daughter did it. Let me walk you through it.
Toot has been doing this in her sleep since she was still in a bassinet next to my bed. Ive freaked out many times, frantically googled, and called the nurse hotline at 2:00am.
I was ever vigilant about her breathing because I thought she would just randomly stop and that would be it. Motherhood has turned me into a constant worrier.
Turns out I had nothing to worry about, and you probably dont either.
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Baby Can Be Trying To Copy Mom And Dad
Children look up to their parents. Many people dont realize its not just kids that do this but babies as well. From infancy, children learn to mimic and copy the behaviors around them. Take for example when a mom gets a bad cough, suddenly her baby might start coughing every time she does. Children learn by watching – even rapid breathing can be mimicked.
When a parent decides to put the baby in a jogging stroller and go for a run they might consider how the fresh air will be great for the infant. However, the infant may take this time to learn a new fun trick like rapid breathing. The baby may see and hear their mother making this funny noise and breathing harder than usual so they simply try to copy the behavior. This type of rapid breathing is usually nothing to worry about but rather a funny new trick the baby can do and a sign that the infant is learning about the world around them.
Normal Breathing Rate For Kids
The thing to watch is how fast they breathe when theyâre at rest. For children, the normal rate depends on their age:
To measure how fast your child is breathing, count how many times their chest rises in 1 full minute. If they’re outside the normal range for their age, something may be wrong.
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