Neonatal Respiratory Depression Treatment

Shortly after some babies are born, they exhibit trouble breathing. This is known as neonatal respiratory depression. Immediately following delivery, nurses and doctors will monitor and assess a newborn’s breathing for problems and will promptly treat any issues that may arise.

Causes

• Factors such as early delivery, pressure on the umbilical cord, problems with the placenta and birth defects can cause respiratory depression in newborns. Some newborns have difficulty breathing if the mother has been given a large dose of anesthesia during labor and delivery.

Medication

• The anesthetic used during delivery can sometimes trigger respiratory depression in a newborn. The drug naloxone can be administered to reverse the effect.

Resuscitation

• If the baby does not begin breathing within two minutes of birth, he must then be resuscitated. This process involves clearing the airway, stimulating the baby by patting his back, administering oxygen and suctioning his airway. He may need to be intubated (an oxygen tube inserted) if he shows no effort to breathe on his own.

Ventilation

• In critical respiratory situations, a newborn may need to be placed on a ventilator, such as a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine.

Body temperature

• All newborns, especially those with respiratory problems, should be kept warm following delivery to maintain a consistent body temperature, limiting further complications.