The rising and falling motion of a newborn’s stomach with every breath is a common observation for new parents. This noticeable movement is not a cause for alarm, but rather the visible sign of their natural and effective breathing mechanism. This pattern confirms that the baby’s respiratory system is functioning as it should. This unique method of breathing is temporary and is entirely due to the specific anatomy of the infant body.
Yes, Newborns Are Abdominal Breathers
The breathing pattern where the abdomen rises and falls significantly is often called “belly breathing,” but it is medically known as abdominal or diaphragmatic respiration. This method reflects the newborn’s reliance on the diaphragm, the body’s primary muscle of inspiration. The diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle situated horizontally beneath the lungs, separating the chest cavity from the abdomen.
When a newborn inhales, the diaphragm contracts and flattens, moving downward into the abdominal space. This downward movement creates a vacuum that pulls air into the lungs, and the displacement of internal organs causes the abdomen to push outward visibly. For the first few months, the diaphragm performs the vast majority of the effort in an infant’s respiratory cycle, unlike adults who use intercostal muscles to expand the chest.
Physiological Reasons for Abdominal Reliance
The newborn’s respiratory system is structured so that abdominal breathing is necessary for effective oxygen intake. An infant’s rib cage differs significantly from an adult’s because their ribs are positioned more horizontally and are composed of softer, more flexible cartilage. This pliable chest wall means the rib cage cannot expand outward and upward with the force needed to draw in a sufficient volume of air.
The intercostal muscles located between the ribs are still weak and uncoordinated in the first months of life. If the newborn relied heavily on these accessory muscles, the soft chest wall would pull inward instead of expanding, a phenomenon known as paradoxical breathing. The diaphragm is comparatively stronger and more efficient at generating the required pressure changes to move air.
The dominance of the diaphragm allows the newborn to breathe with the minimal effort required to sustain their rapid respiratory needs. As the baby grows, the ribs become more calcified and less pliable, and the intercostal muscles strengthen and mature. This process gradually shifts the mechanics of breathing, and the baby begins to incorporate more chest wall movement, typically over the first six months of life.
Recognizing Normal and Concerning Breathing Patterns
Monitoring a newborn’s breathing requires understanding that their patterns are naturally faster and more irregular than those of older children or adults. A healthy newborn typically takes between 40 to 60 breaths per minute while awake, which may slow down to 30 to 40 breaths per minute during sleep. It is also common for infants to exhibit “periodic breathing,” where they take short, shallow breaths followed by a brief pause lasting five to ten seconds.
These short pauses are normal, especially during sleep, and are not usually linked to any change in skin color or heart rate. A pause in breathing that lasts 20 seconds or longer, however, is a serious sign known as apnea that requires immediate medical attention. Continuous rapid breathing, defined as persistently exceeding 60 breaths per minute even when the baby is calm or asleep, is also a reason for concern.
Parents should watch for physical signs that indicate the baby is working too hard to breathe. Indicators of respiratory distress include:
- Nasal flaring, where the nostrils widen with each inhalation in an effort to take in more air.
- Retractions, which appear as the skin sucking in around the ribs, below the breastbone, or above the collarbones.
- Grunting, a short, deep sound made on exhalation.
- Cyanosis, a bluish tint to the lips or skin.