What is the cause of the newborn's nasal congestion and shortness of breath?

Newborns cannot breathe through their mouths, so when there is secretion in their noses, their noses become blocked and they become deprived of oxygen, making breathing difficult. Nasal congestion is a common problem in newborns, but don’t assume that your baby has a cold as soon as you see his nasal congestion! In fact, the fact that newborns are prone to nasal congestion has a lot to do with their physiological structure. Women who have just become mothers are very nervous about their baby's physical reactions. Don't worry too much at this time. The following will explain in detail why newborns have nasal congestion and rapid breathing.

The nasal cavity of a newborn is narrow, the nasal mucosa is tender, and the blood vessels and lymphatic tissue are relatively abundant compared to adults. Nasal congestion is particularly likely to occur when the nasal mucosa is edematous or blocked by secretions. Of course, a newborn's stuffy nose may also be caused by a cold, because the newborn baby has not yet adapted to the environment and has poor immunity. If he does not pay attention to keeping warm, he will catch a cold and have a stuffy nose.

In addition to the above reasons, diseases of some body organs can also cause nasal congestion in newborns. This is a point that we cannot ignore. Congenital nasal atresia, acute rhinitis, nasal polyps, nasal masses, etc. may cause nasal congestion in newborns. If the nasal congestion is more serious, you should go to the hospital to rule out these diseases.

A baby's stuffy nose will make him very uncomfortable, make breathing difficult, and even cause hypoxia in the newborn, which is harmful to his health. Let's see how to deal with it.

Method 1: Clear the nasal cavity

If the nasal congestion is caused by secretions in the nasal cavity, parents can use a cotton swab to gently roll out the secretions. If the secretions have dried up, you can use a cotton swab dipped in water to apply it to the baby's nostrils. Some ointments and eye drops can also have the same effect. When the secretions become soft, you can use a cotton swab to pull them out.

Method 2: Hot compress

You can clear your baby's nasal cavity by applying hot compresses to the nose, because the nasal mucosa contracts when heated, the nasal cavity becomes unobstructed, and the sticky mucus is easier to hydrate and flow out.

Method 3: Change the baby's position

If the baby has a stuffy nose on the left side, the baby should lie on the right side; if the baby has a stuffy nose on the right side, the baby should lie on the left side. This can relieve the stuffy nose. You can also hold your baby upright when he has a stuffy nose, which can also relieve the stuffiness.

Method 4: Acupoint massage

Let the newborn baby lie flat, use the thumb and index finger to massage both sides of the nose from top to bottom for 3 minutes, then rub the Yingxiang point (on both sides of the nose) for 1 minute. When the nasal cavity feels hot, the breath will be unblocked. You can do this every 2 to 3 hours, which can also relieve the baby's nasal congestion.

Method 5: Pay attention to indoor ventilation

Keep the baby's room ventilated. When the weather is cold, use air conditioning or heater to change the room temperature to relieve the child's symptoms of nasal congestion and runny nose.

The above content is an introduction to the issue of why newborns have nasal congestion and rapid breathing. I hope you will have a certain understanding after reading it. There are many reasons that lead to nasal congestion and shortness of breath in newborns, so if your baby has such a condition, you must send him to the hospital in time for comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of the cause to avoid delaying your baby's condition.