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.