How does a baby instantly able to breathe after birth, when it has never been around air or oxygen?

Question

Other than instinct. A detailed answer.

Answer 1

How does a brand new car drive off the dealership when it's never been driven before? It was made to do that.

The same way, the baby's lungs were created to breathe oxygen. Once the baby comes out, the fluids drain from the lungs and airways are open by the nurse in mouth and nose. The lungs begin breathing oxygen at that point. Remember that the lungs were breathing in the belly as well, just not air.

What details do you want? How the lungs were developed? Ask a doctor.

Answer 2

In the womb babies practice breathing and build up their diaphram muscle by sucking in amniotic fluid. And right before birth a hormone is released to signal the lungs to mature so that as soon as the baby is born a signal is sent out from the baby's brain for them to inhale. The baby's body has already been exposed to oxygen (that it got through the umbilical cord from it's mother), so all it has to do once it's born is start getting oxygen on their own through breathing. Not all babies can breathe easily after birth and have to get oxygen and be stimulated by the nurses. Plus, if you ever have a baby of your own, you'll notice that the first month or so there are times when they stop breathing for a few seconds since they are still practicing this new skill. But it *is* a basic instinct. That's all that newborns operate on for the the first two months or so until more neurons grow in their brains to allow for greater conciousness.

Answer 3

when a baby is born the umbilical cord (which supplies oxygen via the blood) is clamped off. so then the baby's body needs to get oxygen via the lungs. throughout pregnancy blood was flowing to the lungs to help them grow and develop. the blood vessels supplying the lungs with blood relax a little after the umbilical cord is clamped, and more blood goes to the baby's lungs. the amniotic fluid in the baby's lungs is absorbed as the baby starts to breath- it is replaced by air. the first breath is basically a reflex by the baby to start the process. sometimes babies have a lot of fluid/blood from being in the womb that needs to be cleared before they can get enough oxygen. this is done using a "bulb suction" sometimes called a "bulb" or "bulb syringe"- the kind that you can buy at the pharmacy to clean your ears out. a nurse uses this to clear out the amniotic fluid so the baby can take a breath. so basically, the baby's body reacts to the clamping of the umblical cord by taking a breath because it needs oxygen.
i hope this helps. it's actually a little more complicated- fetal circulation transition to normal circulation- you can look it up if you want more detail... but it sounds like you just want to know about the breathing.

Answer 4

They were made that way. That's part of what makes having a baby such a miricle.