Alarming breathing sounds? Baby shivers in his sleep
Instead of sleeping peacefully and quietly, is your newborn baby shivering and breathing irregularly? These are nocturnal noises that will certainly worry you at first. But don’t worry! As dramatic as it may sometimes sound, it is a common and harmless phenomenon. You can find out more about it here. We will also inform you how to recognize serious breathing problems.
Instead of sleeping peacefully and quietly, is your newborn baby shivering and breathing irregularly? These are nocturnal noises that will certainly worry you at first. But don’t worry! As dramatic as it may sometimes sound, it is a common and harmless phenomenon. You can find out more about it here. We will also inform you how to recognize serious breathing problems.
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ToggleThe breathing of infants
Newborns go through different respiratory cycles at night. So the sleep of your baby is at times deep and silent or even very noisy. Then a rumbling, snoring or grunting accompany you through the night. In addition, breathing pauses of five to ten seconds can occur, which are replaced by deep breaths, as your baby has yet to learn to breathe regularly. Especially when it comes to your first child, these nocturnal breathing sounds and stoppages are of course worrying and keep you awake. But serious warning signs are not the rumbling when breathing and the pauses in breathing. Nor are they an indication of the dreadedsudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Why does your baby shiver in his sleep?
If healthy newborns make buzzing-rumbling sounds during sleep, this is normal and harmless. The wheezing of newborns is called “Karcheln” in professional circles and it occurs when mucus covers the larynx. Since babies cannot yet clear their throat to get rid of the mucus, the noticeable breathing sounds occur. These occur immediately after birth and disappear on their own – usually by the age of 5 months.
You can help your baby get the mucus off the larynx. Tap him either lightly on the chest or on the back. Often a folded towel under your baby’s head can help. So the head is slightly higher, which also facilitates breathing.
Apnea for premature babies
Especially in infants who were born before the 34th week of pregnancy, a so-called premature baby apnea is often observed. According to “lung doctors on the net“, this is due to the fact that the respiratory center in the brain, which controls and regulates breathing, is not yet fully developed. In the case of premature apnea, breathing temporarily stops for at least five seconds. In most cases, breathing regulates itself from the time when the 34th week of pregnancy has been reached. If the breathing problems persist or intensify, you should definitely have this clarified with your pediatrician. Under certain circumstances, medical care with medication may be necessary.
Detecting serious breathing problems in the baby
In addition, there are abnormalities in your baby’s breathing that you should take seriously. In case of doubt, watch your treasure closely. If any of these warning signs occur, you should see your pediatrician or make an emergency call immediately:
- Your baby is breathing too fast (more than 55 times per minute).
- Your baby has difficulty breathing: You can tell by the fact that your baby often coughs barking or makes croaking noises. Sometimes the nostrils are bloated and the pectoral muscles are visibly tense.
- Apnea: Your baby has these serious breathing interruptions if he does not breathe for more than ten seconds. Breathing interruptions of up to five seconds followed by deep breaths are harmless.
- Lack of oxygen: A bluish discoloration on the fingers or face indicates a lack of oxygen.
- Respiratory infection: A whistling when inhaling and exhaling can indicate a respiratory infection such as bronchitis.