Asphyxia neonatorum, also called newborn
asphyxia.
Asphyxia neonatorum is defined as a failure to
start efficient respiration within a minute of birth. Asphyxia neonatorum is a
neonatal emergency as it may lead to decrease of oxygen supply to the brain and
tissues a condition called hypoxia and possible brain damage or death if not properly
managed. Newborn infants normally start to breathe without help and usually cry
after delivery.
Most of the infants starts breathing by one
minute after birth. If an infant fails to start continuous respiration after
birth, the infant is diagnosed with ‘’asphyxia neonatorum’’. Normal infants
have good muscle tone at birth and move their arms and legs actively, while
asphyxia neonatorum infants are completely staggy and do not move at all.
BABY WITH ASPHYXIA NEONATARUM
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Causes
- Prenatal hypoxia
- Compression of umbilical cord during birth
- Occurrence of preterm delivery
- Maternal anaesthesia
- High risk pegnancies
- Maternal age of more than 40 years old or less than 16 years old
- Mothers with previous histories of prebirths, still biths and abortions
- Lack of prenatal care
- Alcohol abuse my mother
- Smoking by mother during pregnancy
- Preterm labour
Symptoms
- Blue-appearing skin
- Very pale skin
- Difficulty in breathing, which may cause symptoms such as nasal flaring or belly breathing
- Decrease in heart rate
- Weak muscle tone