What Causes Respiratory Distress Syndrome?
A lack of surfactant in a premature baby's lungs
causes respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Surfactant is a liquid that a
fetus' lungs start making at around 26 to 34 weeks of pregnancy. It coats the
insides of the lungs and keeps them open so they can breathe in air after
birth. Without surfactant, the lungs collapse when the baby exhales. The baby
then has to work hard to breathe.
Other factors that can increase the chances your
baby will develop RDS include:
Some infants born at term develop RDS because they
have abnormal genes for surfactant. |