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Lung Development in Premature Babies

Babies born before 37 weeks gestation frequently have breathing problems due to immature lungs. There are a number of ways doctors treat this condition, called Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS).

  1. What is RDS?

    • The more premature a baby is, the more likely she is to have RDS. RDS is caused by inadequate lung surfactant--a film-like material that coats the air sacs in healthy lungs, keeping them open and able to take in oxygen.

    Initial Treatment

    • Most premature infants with RDS are administered artificial lung surfactant to help them breathe.

    Ventilators

    • Preemies with severe RDS are place on a ventilator (or "vent") that breathes for them. Doctors try to wean infants from vents as soon as possible since they can damage the lungs, causing Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD), or chronic lung disease.

    CPAPs

    • With less severe cases, infants are placed on a continuous positive airway pressure (or CPAP) machine, which does not damage the lungs. While the vent requires a tube down the infant's throat, a CPAP machine merely consists of a mask that goes over the baby's nose and mouth.

    Supplemental Oxygen

    • Other preemies require only a little supplemental oxygen, supplied through a nasal cannula. While most preemies will not need additional oxygen at home, a few go home with it. Among those, almost all outgrow the need for supplemental oxygen.

    BDP

    • For infants and small children with BDP, precautions against encountering germs must be taken. Illnesses like the common cold will often lead to more serious problems, including pneumonia and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which can require hospitalization. Most preemies outgrow BDP around age two.

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