My 20-day-old baby was recently discharged from the NICU after being treated for respiratory distress syndrome and pneumothorax. Her respiratory rate is still 70 to 80 breaths per minute. Is this rate normal? Is her condition curable, and what medications or specialised medical care are required for her management?
A normal respiratory rate for a newborn is 40 to 60 breaths per minute, so 70 to 80 is elevated. Because she is recovering from respiratory distress and a pneumothorax, her lungs are still healing. This is common and highly treatable; most babies recover completely. Please contact her paediatrician or neonatologist promptly for an evaluation. She may need specialised care, such as oxygen monitoring or supportive therapies. Do not give any medications without medical guidance. Seek immediate emergency care if you notice signs of difficulty breathing, such as grunting, flaring nostrils, or the chest pulling in deeply.
