OK... I've read several reports on this, and most of the time it turns out to be nothing, but I could use some help from others who have had a first had experience on this.

Did your newborn have rapid or accelerated breathing after about a week? She isn't turning blue or anything and she sleeps fine, but when she's awake, she breathes REALLY fast.

Is this something I should go ahead and see a doctor about?

4/22/2010 5:57:10 PM

Take your kid to the doctor. It's not worth risking their life over TWW. It will put your mind at ease.

4/22/2010 6:13:01 PM

i have to assume this is a joke and nobody would ask about a child's safety on tww - go to the dr

4/22/2010 6:26:48 PM

On your discharge forms from the hospital, there should be a list of FAQ for new parents--look there and see if there's an answer, I know when my niece went home, it answered just about every question my sister had. It should also have a contact number, call and ask. Rapid breathing could mean a number of things. But it's always good to call--then you know if you're overreacting or if you need to bring her in.

4/22/2010 6:59:01 PM

There is such thing as transient tachypnea of the newborn which occurs in this time period and is benign and self-limiting. Babies (especially premies) have immature respiratory drive centers and can have some funny breathing habits. There is also such as transient apnea of the newborn where babies will look like they hold their breath for 5-10 seconds. If your baby is fussy, irritable, not feeding well, or has any other symptoms such as periods of not breathing, turning blue, wheezing, cough, congestion, skin retractions between the ribs, etc. then I'd start worrying about something else.

If you are concerned you should always at least call your pediatrician, if not schedule an office visit. Count her respirations per minute so you have an estimate to provide. He/she will also ask you the usual questions such as how long this has been going on, what times it happens, relation to feeding/sleeping, associated symptoms, aggravating/alleviating factors....

Source: I'm a med student currently on my pediatrics rotation

Moral of the story is talk to your pediatrician.

[Edited on April 22, 2010 at 7:08 PM. Reason : .]

4/22/2010 7:06:26 PM

Thanks very much bumpintahoe!

I did just that and actually what you said and what the pediatrician said is pretty much one and the same!

Gzusfrk, Thanks! The FAQ touched but it didn't get into it any more than "it could be normal for your newborn to breathe rapidly." I was like "It could be?" Well is it or isn't it?

The books did not provide help on this one.

4/22/2010 9:20:29 PM

you do not always have to take your baby to the ER when something unusual pops up. but a call to the pediatrician is always a good idea and its free and quick.

4/23/2010 10:39:48 AM

^this
If you're ever concerned, call the pediatrician. When they're that young, you can err on the side of being crazy.

4/23/2010 2:57:39 PM

figured as much.

I don't want to go to the doctor with every sneeze or just because she breathes fast. But yeah, the phone call did the trick.

Thanks again.

4/23/2010 4:43:52 PM

So when she started breathing fast, did you look at your wife and say "brb, lemme post a question on tww"?

Glad she is well.

4/23/2010 4:45:43 PM

Babies be breathin

4/23/2010 4:54:58 PM

hahahahahaha

Called the pediatrician and I happened to be here. I got a busy signal so I just asked away on here.

It wasn't like "OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG!" But something I noticed Emma was doing and just wanted to make sure it was to be expected, if not normal.

4/23/2010 5:00:24 PM

My friend's daughter had the same problem and he use to sing to her to calm her nerves, something like
One and then the two, Two and then the three, Three and then the four, Then you gotta BREATHE, One and then the two, Two and then the three, Three and then the four, Then you gotta BREATHE, Then you gotta, Then you gotta

4/23/2010 5:00:26 PM

i came in here to post

Quote :

"transient tachypnea"

and

Quote :

"transient apnea"

but i see it's already been done

4/23/2010 9:33:31 PM

^I would still bring in the baby, could be a range of problems (respiratory alkalosis compensating for metabolic acidosis, increased intracranial pressure, etc)

not trying to disagree with you doctors but if I was Apocalypse I would bring my child in and not just wager on the benign disorder w/o a pulse ox and metabolic panel

I too am a med student

4/23/2010 9:56:37 PM

Just brought in the baby today for a check up.

They looked at her and asked a series of questions. Everything is fine, but if it persists into a cough or wheez then straight to doc, do not pass go, do not collect 200 bucks.

4/23/2010 11:33:08 PM