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The birth of a baby is inevitably a time of great joy not only for the parents, but for everyone involved in that person’s life. The feeling of the end of a cycle and the real beginning of a life is unique and explains the feeling of happiness that we feel.
But despite this, there are also concerns that this birth generates, because the cases of babies that need some special care soon after birth are not few. There are cases such as pulmonary hypertension in newborns , for example, which are more common than many imagine, but even so they leave the parents in a real state of shock.
Lung problems are part of the lives of many Brazilians, especially those who live in large cities where there is a lot of pollution and air quality is lower. And even though there are all these problems, it is very common to see people undergo treatments and live a completely normal life without major complications.
There are also cases where the problems appear only in babies , as are often the cases of pulmonary hypertension in newborns. Babies can suffer from this for several reasons, for being premature, for having had some complications during pregnancy, such as the injection of high doses of aspirin by the mother during pregnancy , for example.
But to clarify all these doubts, we first need to know what pulmonary hypertension is , its main causes and what it can do with a newborn.
What is Pulmonary Hypertension?
Pulmonary hypertension occurs when there is a narrowing of the arteries responsible for bringing blood to the lungs . Because of this narrowing, the blood pressure of the lungs ends up rising and causing the organ to become overloaded, which can be very dangerous.
When we talk about a newborn, the picture is even more delicate , since it is a disease of this magnitude attacking the person early in his life. It can occur from birth, or within the first few days of the baby’s life.
But as much as this may generate a great deal of concern or even panic in some mothers, it is necessary to remain calm and follow the doctor’s instructions so that the treatment of pulmonary hypertension in newborns is done in a peaceful manner and that ensures health of the baby.
Diagnosis of Pulmonary Hypertension in Newborns
The diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension in a newborn is made through the analysis of the doctor after the child’s birth. If a baby has difficulty breathing and has very low concentrations of oxygen in the blood, the doctor may already consider the possibility of pulmonary hypertension.
The tests done to confirm whether or not the disease is a chest X-ray and an echocardiogram , which will assess the baby’s pulmonary arteries.
Symptoms of Pulmonary Hypertension in Newborns
In addition to what we have already mentioned here such as difficulty in breathing and the low amount of oxygen in the blood, there are other symptoms that pulmonary hypertension can bring to a newborn. They are:
- Bluish skin
- Fast breathing
- Low blood pressure
It is clear that the doctor, upon realizing these symptoms, will submit the baby to the appropriate tests to confirm whether or not pulmonary hypertension is confirmed.
Causes of Pulmonary Hypertension in Newborns
There are several factors that can cause a newborn to suffer from pulmonary hypertension. The main ones are:
- Asphyxia or difficulty breathing while inside the uterus
- Use of drugs by the mother during pregnancy
- Complications in childbirth
- Mother’s lung or heart problems, especially if affected during pregnancy
- Polycythemia, which interrupts the blood flow of the fet
In addition to these, there are also other less common causes that can lead a newborn to suffer from pulmonary hypertension, but it should be noted that these are the main and most common ones to occur.
Treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension in Newborns
The treatment of this disease involves, first, placing the baby in an oxygenated environment , sometimes even with a ventilator with 100% oxygen. This environment and ventilator, combined, will help the baby’s arteries to open up.
In more severe cases, it may be necessary to inhale nitric oxide along with the oxygen that the baby is breathing. The treatment lasts several days and usually has a complete effect , eliminating the child’s illness.
Despite all the fright that pulmonary hypertension in newborns can give, it is necessary to know that it is something that can be treated and controlled with some ease, especially if this treatment is taken seriously from the beginning.
Lung problems with babies are not as uncommon as many people think, and, contrary to the thinking of many, they often leave no marks for the rest of their lives. And although all of this information is a relief, it is very important to pay attention during pregnancy and take all precautions so that none of these treatments are necessary afterwards.
See also: Premature Babies – Special Care and Attention
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
