how can you tell if a baby has breathing problems?

Answer 1

gasping for breath, limp, blue, not responding

Answer 2

As mothers, we should fight our instincts to diagnose our kids at home, or over the Internet. =) I know it's hard, but you should really make sure you see a doctor about these things, and not read too much. It can make you crazy.

That being said- I was SURE my son had breathing problems. He made the strangest noises while he slept, and it was pretty scary. My husband, my mom and my sister all have severe allergies, and I was sure he was doomed. I used to turn the monitor up so loud that I could hear his breathing. Eventually, though, his breathing became very normal and he's totally fine. I think he was about 6 months old when I realized I wasn't listening to and for his breath all the time.

So, if you're worried, talk to a doctor. Otherwise, give yourself a break. No reason to worry about every possible thing, unless you have really good reason to do so. I know, it's easier said than done. Just take it from a recovering super-paranoid new mom. =)

Answer 3

If your baby makes noises when breathing, take note of what they sound like.This will help determine if there is a problem in the breathing passages and where: Whistling noise: A small blockage in the nostrils tends to make a whistling noise that clears when you suction it out.
Newborn babies breathe out of their noses, not their mouths. This is a good trick, as it allows them to breathe and eat at the same time. However, their little noses have small air passages, so a little bit of mucus or dried milk can make the breathing passage even smaller, causing a whistling noise or occasionally, difficulty moving the air in and out.
Hoarse cry and a "barking" cough: A blockage in the larynx (windpipe), often due to mucus, makes a hoarse cry and a "barking" cough. This is where croup hits.
Deep raspy sound: A blockage in the trachea (which is in the neck) makes a deep raspy sound during breathing. This sound is rarely due to a blockage since the trachea is pretty big. More often it is caused by a harmless condition called tracheomalacia, in which the tissues of the trachea are soft and flexible and make noise when the infant breathes in and out, but it doesn't really cause significant trouble with breathing.
Deep cough: A blockage in the large bronchi (divisions of the trachea, which lead into the lungs) makes a deep cough.
Whistling sound (wheezing): A blockage in the bronchioles (small airways that come from the bronchi) makes a whistling sound when the infant breathes in and out, (as in bronciolitis or asthma later on).
Fast, labored breathing: Fluid in the smallest airways (the "alveoli") causes pneumonia, an infection due to a virus or bacteria. Pneumonia causes fast, labored breathing, occasionally cyanosis, a persistent cough, and crackly sounds ("rales") when listened to with a stethoscope.
Watch your baby's breathing when she's well, so you can get used to how it looks. Time how many breaths she takes in a minute. It's probably faster than you imagined. Knowing what's normal for your baby's breathing will help you spot a potential problem more quickly.

When in doubt of what's going on, make a video of the breathing pattern that is worrying you to show to your pediatric provider.

Answer 4

They sent my baby to the NICU because he was breathing too fast, I would not have noticed, except he was not eating well. That is usually the first sign of a problem, they won't wake up to eat and fall asleep quickly when they latch on. Count the number of breaths in a minute, a few times. Then call the doctor and see if that number is normal. Chances are if the baby eats every 3 hours, poops and pees, all is well.

Answer 5

short fast breathing, bluish or red color to the skin, blue feet, or red, hard time crying. If you suspect any breathing problem you should take the child to ER right away. Sometimes it is not really a breathing problem it is a heart problem. In infants it is very tricky.

Answer 6

Well...if the baby has trouble breathing, obviously. You can usually tell if someone isn't breathing normally.

Answer 7

the baby will turn blue around the lips especially when lying down, you will hear the baby struggle for breath, it will breath faster and take shorter breaths.

Answer 8

Sometimes baby will turn a little blue around the mouth. Not as serious as turning blue altogether, but pretty darn serious.

Answer 9

It turns blue and stops moving.

Answer 10

take it to the doctor and make sure you got one that knows what he is doing.