P24.1: Neonatal aspiration of amniotic fluid and mucus

Amniotic fluid or mucous has got into the child’s airways or lungs.

You need lungs to breath. When you breathe in, the air with the oxygen passes through the airways to the lungs. The respiratory tract ends in the air sacs in the lungs. Oxygen passes into the blood in the pulmonary alveoli (air sacs). The pulmonary alveoli and the airways are surrounded by supportive tissue. This supportive tissue consists of connective tissue. Normally the child’s pulmonary alveoli open out immediately after birth when the first breath is taken and they fill with air.

Amniotic fluid or mucous can get into the child’s airways and lungs. This can happen before and during the birth, for example. The child’s health problems depend on how much amniotic fluid or mucous gets into its airways and lungs. Amniotic fluid or mucous can block the airways.

If the child’s airways are blocked, the pulmonary alveoli may absorb less oxygen. This can cause breathlessness and accelerated breathing. The skin may also be blueish. As a result, a lung inflammation can develop. With a case of lung inflammation, various other health problems can occur. These include a sucking weakness. The child may also keep stopping breathing for a short time. The body temperature may be higher or lower than usual.