How do babies breathe when being born?

Question

Okay so I know that babies dont breathe in the womb as their surrounded by the waters, but when the waters break and the baby comes out how does it breathe on the way out? Ive heard that nurses/doctors do something to start it breathing so I guess I have answered my own question really but Im still confused, how is the baby alive but not breathing and how long could it last like that?

Answer 1

through the mother through the umbilical cord attactched to their belly and attatched to their mum by the placenta hope this helps you kitten

Answer 2

The vast majority 95% breath without assistance. If a baby had a the cord wrapped around the neck, problems with the placenta, prematurity, or are breach it may take some stimulation to get the baby breathing. Doctors no longer slap the baby on the rear to start breathing but will flick the heals and rub the back. If that does not work a few breaths with an oxygen mask usually works. There is no reason not to assume that this baby is totally normal.

Answer 3

While a baby is being born, it is still connected to the placenta via the umbilical cord, which is where it gets its oxygen from whilst growing in the womb. Once the baby feels air in its nose it instinctively breathes, if it is strong enough, sometimes it needs some help to get started. After it is breathing the doctor or midwife ties off the umbilical cord to stop the blood flowing into it. One danger is that the umbilical cord becomes detached from the placenta before the baby is delivered, cutting off the source of oxygen, and then it is a race against time before the baby asphyxiates, although they can survive much longer without oxygen than adults.

Answer 4

In the womb a fetus receives oxygen through the umbilical (I hope I spelled that right) cord. That is how the fetus stays alive in the embryonic fluid and also at birth. That is how a woman can give birth in the water and the child not be in risk of drowning while the head in exposed.

A baby can survive in the actual birth canal for several minutes. When the baby is exposed to the air it's like a shock and usually the baby will take it's first Breath of air and exhale with a cry.

A fetus needs and receives oxygen through it's blood during the entire pregnancy

Answer 5

Once it's airways have been cleared and the umbilical cord is cut babies lungs kick in and start breathing for them! It is thought that the reason a baby cries when it is first born is because it is taking it's first breath. Doctors or nurses have to do nothing to start it's breathing, unless of course the baby has difficulties on the way out that prevents it from getting enough oxygen. All that needs to be done is for the airways to cleared if blocked!

Answer 6

Babies don't breathe on the way out the same way they don't breathe in the womb. Babies get all the oxygen they need through the umbilical cord and usually don't begin completely breathing for themselves until the cord is cut and sometimes they need stimulating. Otherwise you wouldn't be able to have water births!.

Answer 7

Oxygen is supplied to the baby through the umbilical cord during birth, just as it is whilst the baby is in the womb.
Breathing should be spontanious once the baby exits the womb, it does occaissionally take some 'gentle' stimulation from medical personal to get it started tho, ie vigouress rubbing - no more slapping bbies bums tho!

Answer 8

Actually babies DO breathe in the womb...they receive oxygen through the amniotic fluid. it is a complicated process as they do n ot need to use their lungs to receive oxygen.......but that is a question in itself. Anyhow, when a baby is born, as it passes through the vaginal canal, the body (and of course the lungs) are being squeezed. This helps squeeze the fluid from the lungs. (If the baby does not take a breath after being born, the baby is suctioned out both by the nose and mouth and stimulated. A baby cannot survive for long after being born if it does not breathe, so there are method to help them such as suctioning the mucous from the mouth and nose, giving extra oxygen, using a bag and mask over the baby's nose and mouth and breathe for it until it starts on its own, or under extreme cases, putting a breathing tube in its windpipe and attaching the baby to a ventilator to assist it until it can breathe on its own.) As soon as the baby takes its first breath, the blood vessels in the lungs dilate and the air sacs in the lungs "open up", and help to squeeze the rest of the fluid from the lungs. the infants body undergoes an amazing transformation internally where the heart ducts begin to close and change the blood flow from fetal circulation in which the lungs are not used to breathing the way we know it...but using our lungs.

Answer 9

after the waters break the baby still doesnt need to breathe as it gets all the oxygen it needs from the placenta. However, when the baby is born it will take its first breath and then the cord can be cut.

Answer 10

the cord makes the baby breath till it is born wen they can breath alone and un aided. when a doc has to help yhe child breath its because there is usually mucas trappd so a doc clears the babs airways by untrappping the mucas by clearing the mucas from the airways!if the baby is left with trappd airways for to long and goes without air for so long they can be left with any thing from a mild form of disabality to a severe case!

Answer 11

babies do not breath oxygen in the womb true however their lungs fully work. when they hit the air for the first time they take thier first breath by breathing in and breath out really quick the doctors and midwifes only insist the baby if it is having trouble