Why Does My Baby Breathe Hard While Sleeping

Causes Of Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

OSA is usually caused when the soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses and blocks the upper airway during sleep. Infants with medical problems like craniofacial syndromes , floppy airways due to laryngomalacia or large adenoids and big tissue at the back of their throat are at most risk.

Central Sleep Apnea

CSA is rarer. This is when the childs brain is misfiring and not telling the body to breathe when it should. There are some concerns that children born premature or if the mother smokes during pregnancy that this can increase the risk of central sleep apnea in infants. Central sleep apnea is most commonly idiopathic . It can also be seen in children with neurologic insults .

Reasons To Call A Doctor

Early diagnosis gives your child the best chance of recovery and can help reduce the occurrence of future problems. Any change in the pattern of your newborn’s breathing may indicate a respiratory problem. If you have any concerns about your baby’s breathing, call a doctor immediately. Doctors can perform a chest X-ray to diagnose any breathing issues and provide a treatment plan accordingly.

If your baby develops any of the following symptoms, you should call 911:

• Their breathing stops for 20 seconds or longer.
• Their lips, fingernails, toenails, or tongue turn blue .

Visit your doctor immediately in any of the following circumstances:

• Your baby is moaning or grunting with every breath.
• Your baby’s nostrils are flaring, as they are making more effort to take oxygen into their lungs.
• The muscles around your baby’s collarbones, on their neck, or under their ribs are pulling in and out more deeply than normal.
• Your baby is having difficulty eating along with breathing problems.
• Your baby has a fever along with breathing issues.
• Your baby is lethargic, and their energy levels are decreased.

Newborn breathing patterns are often irregular and can make parents worry. Babies often make distinctive noises while breathing, breathe quickly, and take occasional pauses between breaths. Though these newborn breathing patterns are normal, you should pay close attention to them.

Noticeable Breasts In A Boy

The parents of a 6-week-old boy came to the emergency room after he woke one morning with a warm red lump on his chest, directly under his right nipple. Here, too, estrogen was the cause. As the level of maternal estrogen falls in the baby, the milk-producing hormone prolactin temporarily increases and can cause breast growth.

In fact, at least 50 percent of healthy newborn boys and girls experience this, often on just one side. Five percent of newborn boys will even produce a milk-like substance known as “witch’s milk”and that’s exactly what happened in this case and explains why the lump grew so quickly. The enlargement usually goes away within the first month, but it can last for three months or longer.

When to Worry About Baby Chest Lumps

If the breast appears red, seems tender, or if your baby has a fever, see your pediatrician to determine whether there’s an infection. Also, while breast-tissue development is extremely common in newborns and during puberty , this could indicate a hormonal problem if it happens at other times.

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When Should I Call The Doctor

If you are uncertain about your babys wellbeing at any time, especially when it involves her breathing, you should contact the doctor, a health visitor or any appropriate healthcare provider.

In general, its important to seek immediate medical attention if you notice any of the following:

• Fewer than 30 breaths per minute
• More than 60 breaths per minute
• Persistent grunting or noises after each breath
• Flared nostrils with each breath
• A stridor and/or a barking cough
• A pause in breathing which lasts longer than 10 seconds
• Retractions when the muscles under the rib cage and neck visibly pull in and out much more than usual
• A bluish colour around the lips and nose
• Anything else about your babys breathing that causes you concern.

Causes Of Fast Breathing During Sleep

Mouth breathing during sleep

This is the most destructive sleep factor. Nasal breathing is crucial for ones health during sleep and at all other times. It was considered before and is easy to check. Is your mouth dry when you wake up? If it so, consider using a simple mouth taping technique .

For many modern mouth breathers, the night mouth taping technique will immediately reduce their problems with after-sleep headaches, weight gain, acne, sleep talking and sleep paralysis.

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Sleeping on ones back makes breathing heavier

Among body positions, sleeping on ones back is worst for all tested conditions, as 24 medical studies suggest . Some people experience sleep paralysis and sleep talking only in the supine posture. Research conducted in the Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo found that, indeed, A greater number of individuals reported SP in the supine position than all other positions combined. The supine posture was also 3-4 times more common during SP than when normally falling asleep . Kompanje also observed that that sleep paralysis and hypnagogic experiences occur more often in supine position of the body.

Childrens ventilation is minimum when they are sleeping on their tummies . Swaddled infants should sleep on their backs.

Presence of disease and existing damage in the body

Talking about sleep effects during his Lecture in the Moscow State University, Dr. Buteyko noticed,

Here is the link:

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What To Watch For In An Infants Breathing

Fast breathing by itself isnt a cause for concern, but there are a few things to pay attention to. Once you have a sense of your newborns normal breathing pattern, watch closely for signs of change.

Premature newborns may have underdeveloped lungs and have some problems breathing. Full-term babies delivered by cesarean are at increased risk for other breathing issues right after birth. Work closely with your childs pediatrician to learn what signs you need to monitor.

Newborn breathing problems include:

• wheezing which could stem from asthma or bronchiolitis
• persistent dry cough, which may signal an allergy

How Is Transient Tachypnea Of The Newborn Treated

Babies with TTN are watched closely and may go to a neonatal intensive care unit or special care nursery. There, doctors check babies’ heart rates, breathing rates, and oxygen levels to make sure breathing slows down and oxygen levels are normal.

Breathing Help

Some babies with TTN need extra oxygen. They get this through a small tube under the nose called a .

A baby who gets extra oxygen but still struggles to breathe might need continuous positive airway pressure to keep the lungs from collapsing. With CPAP, a machine pushes a steady stream of pressurized air or oxygen through a nasal cannula or mask. This helps keep the lungs open during breathing.

Nutrition

Good nutrition can be a problem when a baby is breathing so fast that he or she can’t suck, swallow, and breathe at the same time. If so, fluids can keep the baby hydrated while preventing blood sugar from dipping too low.

If your baby has TTN and you want to breastfeed, talk to your doctor or nurse about pumping and storing breast milk until your baby is ready to feed. Sometimes babies can get breast milk or formula through a:

• nasogastric tube: a small tube placed through the baby’s nose that carries food right to the stomach
• orogastric tube: a small tube placed through the baby’s mouth that carries food right to the stomach

If your baby has one of these tubes, ask the doctor about providing breast milk for your baby.

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Why Do Newborns Like To Fight Sleep So Much

Why A Newborn Is Fighting Sleep Over-stimulation might be one reason your newborn is fighting sleep Baby might be hungry They may be sleeping too lighting and not getting into a deep sleep, causing sleep disruption The temperature in the room can cause discomfort for a baby Baby isnt on a consistent sleep schedule

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.

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An Upper Airway Noise Could Be Croup

Stridor is an extremely common condition typically caused by croup. You can usually identify croup by a harsh, bark-like cough that results from inflammation in the larynx . It is usually brought on by an upper respiratory viral infection . In many cases, this is easily treatable with cool humidified air and steroids. But sometimes it will need an urgent care center to give a aerosolized does of racemic epinephrine.

Your Babys Breathing Is Usually Normal

Those first few weeks with baby can be scary. Its natural to analyze every move and every sound baby makesafter all, you just want him/her to be healthy. But the good news is that most of the time those funny noises babys making are totally normal. Babies breathe faster than adults do and its unusual for healthy, full-term babies to have breathing problems. Try to relax and have faithand keep baby close those extra snuggles will do you both good.

As always, if you have any concerns about your babys breathing, call your pediatrician immediately.

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Key Points To Remember About Snoring Or Noisy Breathing

• snoring or noisy breathing may mean your child has obstructive sleep apnoea
• obstructive sleep apnoea is a narrowing of the airways at the back of the nose and in the throat during sleep that causes a child to have difficulty breathing and pauses in their breathing
• the effect on a child can include disturbed sleep, poor daytime behaviour and difficulty learning at school
• enlarged tonsils and adenoids are an important cause of obstructive sleep apnoea, and an operation to remove them can resolve the problem
• overweight and obese children are at greater risk

When To See The Doctor

A very sick baby will look and act very different than normal. But it can be difficult to know whats normal when youve only known your baby for a few weeks. Over time, youll get to know your baby better and your confidence will grow.

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

• trouble sleeping or eating
• deep cough
• barking cough
• fever above 100.4°F or 38°C

If your baby has any of these major signs, call 911 or go to an emergency room right away:

• a distressed look

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What Might Breathing Problems Indicate In A Newborn

Babies breathe much faster than older children and adults. A newborn’s normal breathing rate is about 40 times each minute. This may slow to 20 to 40 times per minute when the baby is sleeping. The pattern of breathing in a baby 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 a normal occurrence. Babies normally use their diaphragm 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, but are not limited to, the following:

For any sign of respiratory problems, you should consult your baby’s doctor immediately.

What You Can Do

Apnea may come on quickly and without warning, especially during times of stress or infection. The monitor placed on your baby is especially made to alert you to any possible periods of apnea or bradycardia. The best thing you can do as a parent is to be prepared. The doctors and nurses will teach you how to take care of your baby’s special needs. You can:

• Read carefully all information given to you.

• Ask any questions you may have.

• Take an active part in your child’s care.

• Tell us what you are thinking and feeling.

• Let us help you care for your baby.

We know this is a difficult time for you and your family. Remember, this is a temporary condition. Together, we can help your baby grow and develop as a normal, healthy child.

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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.

Treatment For Heavy Breathing While Sleeping

Treatment depends on the cause and each cause needs different treatment based on the severity and period of existence. All the causes cant be treated with one simple method. Depending on the cause and the diagnosis reports a health care provider will suggest treatment that may include invasive or non-invasive methods. In rare cases, surgery may also be recommended.

Heavy breathing while sleeping in pregnant women is also seen due to internal changes especially due to the enlargement of the uterus. The reasons for heavy breathing while sleeping differ from person to person, before visiting a doctor try to figure out the condition so that your doctor can understand your situation clearly.

Sudheendra is a passionate blogger for 8 years and holds a Degree in Journalism & Mass Communications. His writings particularly focus on health, medicine, diet & lifestyle. For him, everything that interlinks and relates to health & medical world entices him. His write-ups aim at educating people not by just giving facts but by infusing human touch.

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Infant Breathing Difficulty: What The Problem Might Be

All the childcare manuals and classes in the world wont prepare you for the joy and worry of the first night home with a new baby. You realize then that youre on your own, and that can be an overwhelming feeling, particularly when it comes to worrying about your infants breathing.

All babies make odd noises while breathingsnuffles and whistles and what sounds like irregular intake of breathbut usually these noises don’t indicate anything abnormal. There are some signs to watch and listen for, though, that may indicate breathing problems in infants.

What Should I Do If I Think My Child Might Have Obstructive Sleep Apnoea

If you are worried that your child may have obstructive sleep apnoea, take them to your family doctor. Your doctor will examine your child and will refer them to an ear, nose and throat surgeon if their tonsils and adenoids are thought to be causing the problem, or to a paediatrician for further investigations. The doctor will want to know all about your childs sleep patterns and will examine the airway by looking into their mouth. A paediatrician may refer your child for a polysomnography or sleep study.

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Heavy Breathing While Sleeping In Adults

Once a person crosses the age of 40 the chances of breathing problems increases. Whatever the reason behind this, breathing problems augment if left unattended. Obesity, large neck, a family history of sleep apnea all these severe the condition in adults. The best means to fight the condition is to know the underlying cause and take treatment accordingly.

What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnoea

When someone falls asleep, the muscles of the throat relax and the airways at the back of the nose and in the throat become narrow. This can cause snoring or noisy breathing.

Although noisy breathing during sleep is common in children, it may be a sign that the child is having difficulty breathing. In young children, the tonsils and adenoids may grow to be quite large, and this can contribute to narrowing of the airway during sleep. The photo below shows enlarged tonsils in a child with obstructive sleep apnoea.

Obstructive sleep apnoea is a condition where narrowing of the airways at the back of the nose and in the throat during sleep is enough to cause a child to have difficulty breathing or pauses in their breathing. The child will then wake up briefly because they cannot breathe properly, often with a loud gasp or snort. These episodes can happen many times through the night and the disturbed sleep can result in changes in behaviour during the day such as sleepiness, hyperactive behaviour, impulsivity, poor attention and difficulty learning at school.

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