Who had the question thread?

[carsonshepherd]

This is driving me crazy. For an assignment, I can't find a simple explanation of why newborns have a much higher breathing rate and pulse. I know what makes sense, but I don't know if there's a more physiological explanation. Sometimes it's the simplest things that are so hard to Google.

 

[MaeveoSliabh]

If I remember right, it has to do with an adrenaline rush given to deal with the shock of being born.

 

[carsonshepherd]

If I remember right, it has to do with an adrenaline rush given to deal with the shock of being born.

nothing in my book about that. I put they have small lung capacities and greater oxygen needs *shrug*

 

[MaeveoSliabh]

nothing in my book about that. I put they have small lung capacities and greater oxygen needs *shrug*

So much for remembering right...

 

[carsonshepherd]

So much for remembering right...

Don't feel bad, I just studied it in class last week and I don't remember it.

 

[MaeveoSliabh]

Don't feel bad, I just studied it in class last week and I don't remember it.

Evidently something that's interesting to you, eh?

 

[gauchecritic]

Purely guesswork but isn't it something to do with their not being umbilically attached any more?

 

[Guest]

This is driving me crazy. For an assignment, I can't find a simple explanation of why newborns have a much higher breathing rate and pulse. I know what makes sense, but I don't know if there's a more physiological explanation. Sometimes it's the simplest things that are so hard to Google.

Carson - I found this. Does this help?

http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/40146.htm

Question:

Our newborn`s respiratory rate was between 64 and 70 for the first few hours following birth. Is that too fast?

Answer:

Yes, that is a high respiratory rate for a newborn, however, it may not indicate a serious problem, the upper limit of normal being 60. Many babies need a few hours to have all of the fluid in their lungs, that is normally present while inside mom, reabsorbed. During this period, their rate of breathing increases because the fluid increases the work of breathing. The lungs have a large lymphatic system and this drains the fluid from the lungs over the course of 1-12 hours. Babies who are born by scheduled cesarean section or who have rapid births are most prone to this problem. It is linked to serious illness or lung problems.

A rapid respiratory rate also can be a sign of infection in the newborn period or of problems with the development of the lungs. Doctors and nurses in the nursery carefully watch over and thoroughly evaluate infants with high respiratory rates to identify infants with serious problems and to prevent dehydration and other problems such high respiratory rates might cause.

 

[carsonshepherd]

Carson - I found this. Does this help?

http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/40146.htm

Question:

Our newborn`s respiratory rate was between 64 and 70 for the first few hours following birth. Is that too fast?

Answer:

Yes, that is a high respiratory rate for a newborn, however, it may not indicate a serious problem, the upper limit of normal being 60. Many babies need a few hours to have all of the fluid in their lungs, that is normally present while inside mom, reabsorbed. During this period, their rate of breathing increases because the fluid increases the work of breathing. The lungs have a large lymphatic system and this drains the fluid from the lungs over the course of 1-12 hours. Babies who are born by scheduled cesarean section or who have rapid births are most prone to this problem. It is linked to serious illness or lung problems.

A rapid respiratory rate also can be a sign of infection in the newborn period or of problems with the development of the lungs. Doctors and nurses in the nursery carefully watch over and thoroughly evaluate infants with high respiratory rates to identify infants with serious problems and to prevent dehydration and other problems such high respiratory rates might cause.

Actually yes. Babies need to inflate their lungs with air. Duhhh.

 

[carsonshepherd]

Evidently something that's interesting to you, eh?

I've got a lot on my mind these days...

 

[carsonshepherd]

Purely guesswork but isn't it something to do with their not being umbilically attached any more?

In a nutshell, yes. They're exchanging their mother's air through the placenta instead of breathing, so they have no air in their lungs, and no surfactant to break the surface tension in their lungs - think balloons inflating. If the balloon is wet, it won't inflate as easily. A surfactant (like soap) breaks that tension.