What Is Birth Asphyxia?
Birth asphyxia, also called asphyxia neonatorum, is the inability of an infant to establish regular respiration following birth. The condition results from an inadequate supply of oxygen to an infant while in the womb or during the delivery process. Birth asphyxia is considered a medical emergency and immediate steps must be taken to establish respiration. Prompt treatment is essential to preventing long-term damage and fatality. Asphyxia neonatorum can be caused by several factors that may occur in utero and during the delivery process. The mother’s health during pregnancy and delivery directly impacts the overall health of the fetus. Physiological factors inside the womb may also contribute to the development of birth asphyxia. Once the child is born, the risk of asphyxia does not diminish until regular respiration is established.
