I did not want to take away my eyes for a second when my first baby boy was born. It was unbelievable that I made life inside me from the scratch. When the second and third babies were born, I had the older siblings to look after and the time I could spend staring at them was a lot lesser. Even though it was not the easiest with a healing body and sleepless nights, newborn days are my most favorite memories. The littlest things we notice while eagerly watching our babies can make us worried. If you have noticed your baby gasp for air in sleep, you know what I meant.
Seeing your baby gasp for air is indeed a scary thing for you to watch as a parent. But it is normal for babies to pause breathing for few seconds which causes them to gasp for air. They have immature respiratory systems which are still developing so such pauses are frequent and benign for newborns. There are some instances in which the gasping for air can be a sign of respiratory distress that your baby is experiencing. This article addresses the causes of gasping, how to help your baby who gasps for air in sleep and when to be concerned about air gasping.
CONTENT
1. Why does my baby gasp for air in sleep?
2. What to do when my baby is gasping for air?
3. When should I be concerned about my baby’s gasping for air?
1. Why does my baby gasp for air in sleep?
O. Matthews, in his book “Respiratory Control and Disorders in the Newborn” states that periodic pauses in breathing are common among newborns due to their still maturing respiratory system. These pauses in breathing cause the babies to gasp for air while sleeping. According to British Lung Foundation, an adult have around 300 million alveoli where a baby will be born with only 20-50 million alveoli. This explains how underdeveloped a newborn’s respiratory system is.
As the baby grows up, he will learn to use his respiratory muscles efficiently which will help him to have a more consistent breathing pattern. In some cases, your baby might gasp for air in sleep due to another health condition other than the immaturity of the respiratory system. Below are some such health issues that can result in the air gasping of the babies.
- Premature Birth
Babies have a relatively low number of alveoli and premies have lesser alveoli than babies who are born full-term. Premature babies also have low amounts of surfactants, the proteins that coat the alveoli. The purpose of surfactants is to support the lungs in the intake of the maximum amount of oxygen. Surfactant deficiency can worsen distressed breathing in babies born prematurely.
- Laryngomalacia
Laryngomalacia approximately affect one in 2600 to 3100 newborns. This is the most common cause of infant stridor and is a wheeze or squeak resulted from the blocked airflow. When the tissue above the vocal cords falls into the respiratory tract, it is called Laryngomalacia. Although a majority of babies experience this health problem, they grow out of it with age. Only a few of them need surgery to fix the problem.
- Congestion
Mucus can be built up quickly in a baby’s nose due to a cold, viral infection, or allergies. A congested nose is also a cause of disrupted breathing patterns.
- Asthma
Asthma is a respiratory disease caused by the inflammation of the bronchial tubes. It restricts the inhalation process of the baby. Therefore, your baby will be forced to breathe. The exact cause of asthma is still unknown to the experts but, it is widely believed that viral infections and environmental factors such as fumes are common triggers.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) –
When a baby has GERD, it means that his lower esophageal sphincter is weak. The weak esophageal sphincter cannot keep closed. So it allows the digestive juices to flow back into the esophagus. GERD can cause breathing difficulties in babies due to bronchospasm. It can also lead to problems such as aspiration of refluxed food and stomach acids.
- Sleep apnea
Between one and five percent of children experience sleep apnea as babies. It is a breathing disorder that causes pauses in breathing while being asleep.
2. What to do when my baby is gasping for air?
There is no treatment for short pauses in breathing. But always be vigilant about them as it can be a symptom of another health problem mention above. When you observe that your baby is gasping for air, hold him in an upright position in a room with clean air.
If your baby is congested, give him a warm bath, or a massage and use a nose bulb like Frida Baby NoseFrida Snotsucker. You can also use a saline solution. Read this article to know more remedies to help your congested baby.
3. When should I be concerned about my baby’s gasping for air?
You should be aware of the signs of respiratory distress to identify them from the normal pauses of breathing. Below are few symptoms that your baby is experiencing breathing difficulty.
- The baby’s tummy is sucking in more than usual.
- The skin is pulling in or retracting abnormally around the chest.
- Baby is breathing loudly (can be grunting, wheezing, and gasping)
- Sweaty skin
- Coughing or/and congested
- Breathing rate is increasing
- Nostrils are widening
- Baby is moving his head
- Open mouth
- Experience difficulties in sleeping
- The baby does not look comfortable or being fussy
- Unusually lethargic and overtired
- Crying and off the mood
- Refuse to eat or take short and frequent breaks while feeding
- Unlatch from the breast or the bottle frequently
If your baby has the above symptoms and you suspect that he is experiencing breathing difficulty, please contact your pediatrician as soon as possible.
If your baby is turning blue or you cannot wake up him, call 911. You have to take your baby to the hospital immediately and provide the necessary treatment.