Question
Sometimes, it seems like the child is breathing quite rapidly, and I can hear phlegm-like sounds in their throat. What is neonatal aspiration pneumonia?
Answer
During pregnancy or labor, neonates can aspirate amniotic fluid due to various reasons such as maternal preeclampsia, hypertension, aging placenta leading to poor placental blood circulation, umbilical cord around the neck, excessive bleeding during labor, or difficult labor. This aspiration stimulus the respiratory center of the fetus, causing the fetus that was not breathing in the womb to start breathing again and aspirate amniotic fluid into the respiratory tract and lungs. Certain substances in the amniotic fluid, such as sebum and epithelial cells, can cause chemical and mechanical stimulation in the alveoli, leading to pneumonia. The key to prevention is to prevent aspiration of amniotic fluid during the fetal stage or labor.