How to treat transient tachypnea of the newborn

Treatment for the newborn's transient tachypnea, which can appear up to 2 hours after birth with symptoms such as rapid breathing and bluish skin, is usually done only with oxygen booster to help the baby breathe better, once the problem resolves alone. Therefore, the baby may need to wear an oxygen mask for 2 days or until the oxygen levels are normalized.

In addition, when transient tachypnea causes very rapid breathing, with more than 80 respiratory movements per minute, the baby should not be fed through the mouth, as there is a great risk that the milk will be sucked into the lungs, causing pneumonia. In these cases, the baby may have to use a nasogastric tube, which is a small tube that runs from the nose to the stomach and which is normally only used by the nurse to feed the baby.

The improvement in the symptoms of the transient tachypnea of the newborn may appear between 12 to 24 hours after the start of treatment, but in some cases, it may be necessary to maintain oxygen for up to 2 days. After treatment, the newborn does not have any type of sequelae, nor is it at greater risk of developing respiratory problems such as asthma or bronchitis.

Baby with oxygen mask

Respiratory physiotherapy exercise

Physiotherapy for transient tachypnea of the newborn

Respiratory physiotherapy can be used during treatment to, together with oxygen, facilitate the baby's breathing process and is usually done by a physiotherapist who uses some types of positions and exercises that help to decrease the effort of the respiratory muscles and facilitate the opening of the airways.

Which babies are most at risk for transient tachypnea

The newborn's transient tachypnea arises when the baby's lungs are unable to eliminate all amniotic fluid after birth and, therefore, there is a greater risk of developing the problem in cases of:

Newborn with less than 38 weeks of gestation; Newborn with low weight; Mother with a history of diabetes; Cesarean delivery; Delay in cutting the umbilical cord.

Thus, a way to prevent the development of transient tachypnea in the newborn is to inject corticosteroid drugs, directly into the mother's vein, 2 days before delivery by cesarean section, especially when it happens between 37 and 39 weeks of pregnancy.

In addition, maintaining a healthy pregnancy with a balanced diet, regular exercise and decreasing the use of substances such as alcohol and coffee, helps to reduce the number of risk factors.

Symptoms of transient tachypnea in the newborn

The main symptoms of transient tachypnea in the newborn include:

Rapid breathing with more than 60 respiratory movements per minute; Difficulty breathing, emitting sounds (moaning); Exaggerated opening of the nostrils; Bluish skin, especially in the nostrils, lips and hands.

When the baby has these symptoms, it is recommended to have diagnostic tests, such as chest X-rays and blood tests, to confirm the diagnosis and initiate appropriate treatment.