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Can A 5 Month Old Fetus In The Womb Have Breathing Problems?

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Posted on Mon, 23 May 2016
Question: Is it possible for a baby/fetus to have a breathing problem at 5 months of being inside the womb. the woman having my baby said the doctor told her the baby is having breathing problems that may cause the baby to have a disability when born but she is only 5 months pregnant and I thought the mother breathes for the baby. Does any of this make any sense or is there any information that you can give me on this ?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (49 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
There does seem to be a miscommunication or misunderstanding here

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome.

Thank you for writing to us.

I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. The fetus does not breathe within the womb and just simply receives all its nutrients and other necessities from the mother.

What I am assuming the woman having your baby was conveyed was that the baby must not be growing or developing as per the required milestones, which may result in the baby having an underdeveloped respiratory system or lungs. In such a scenario, steroids are administered to help with the growth and to allow the baby to reach the required milestones. Of course this comes with side effects which is a different topic altogether.

This is the closest explanation I could come up with based on the information at hand, but no the fetus cannot breathe within the womb.

I hope I have explained things in a manner best understood by you. Please do not hesitate to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help.

Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shoaib Khan (10 minutes later)
She said that the doctor said that stress has caused this and also because she drank energy drinks ? . there would be a medical term for what is aparantly wrong with the baby if it was true I am assuming ?? I had a feeling it was just a cry for attention. Thank you , you have put my mind to rest I was very worried about my baby
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (19 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Always here to help; some extra knowledge for you :)

Detailed Answer:
Hello once again.

Yes, there would be a medical term for the condition were it to be true.

Any baby breathes its first breath only after being delivered, until then it relies on its mother entirely for its source of nutrients and even oxygen, but through the blood.

Just for your information, if you find the topic interesting; some babies stay within the mothers womb for longer than the given duration of 9 months. In such cases, the doctors make sure they go ahead with a cesarean section before the duration of 41-42 weeks is passed. Reason being; the baby receives the required nutrients and oxygen from the placenta. As the pregnancy progresses, the placenta ages and so it is not able to provide the child with enough oxygen as it gets older. So, if the fetus stays in for longer than 40 weeks, then the child tries to take its first breath within the womb to get the oxygen it is lacking, because it has a fully developed set of lungs. In such a scenario, as the baby is still within the mothers womb with the amniotic fluid, it aspirates the fluid. But this never happens in a normal term baby or anytime before the 40 week time period.

This was just some extra information for you, and also to prove to you that the fetus never breathes within the womb. :)

I am more than happy to be of assistance, and I hope I was of help. Please do not ever hesitate to write to me anytime in the future should the need arise, you can do so by simply mentioning my name in the query and the query shall be directed to me.

Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shoaib Khan (7 minutes later)
Is there any way the baby may not be able to recieve oxygen threw the blood and this is what the doctor is referring to
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (7 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Yes, that is called placental insufficiency

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

Yes, this is possible and is called placental insufficiency. It occurs when the placenta is under developed, or damaged and thus does not deliver a sufficient amount of nutrients to the baby from the mother.

Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Shoaib Khan

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2009

Answered : 9409 Questions

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Can A 5 Month Old Fetus In The Womb Have Breathing Problems?

Brief Answer: There does seem to be a miscommunication or misunderstanding here Detailed Answer: Hello and welcome. Thank you for writing to us. I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. The fetus does not breathe within the womb and just simply receives all its nutrients and other necessities from the mother. What I am assuming the woman having your baby was conveyed was that the baby must not be growing or developing as per the required milestones, which may result in the baby having an underdeveloped respiratory system or lungs. In such a scenario, steroids are administered to help with the growth and to allow the baby to reach the required milestones. Of course this comes with side effects which is a different topic altogether. This is the closest explanation I could come up with based on the information at hand, but no the fetus cannot breathe within the womb. I hope I have explained things in a manner best understood by you. Please do not hesitate to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help. Best wishes.