RAPID RESPIRATION

Rapid respiration is a sign that is commonly seen in infants with Neonatal Abstinence. The baby breathes faster than normal. The pattern of the baby’s breathing may also be different and can be fast or labored breathing (panting). Shallow breathing may also be seen.

NOTE: The Following Videos found in this kit under the Parenting Tips from Specialists will provide more information and/or demonstration that might be useful for some of the interventions recommended here.

NAS: Early Interventions

THE SOOTHE Technique

NAS & Feeding

Sucking & Feeding Devices

STRATEGIES BY DISCIPLINE

NEURODEVELOPMENT

  • Determine root cause by consultation with your baby’s doctor.

  • Keep the baby calm as much as possible. Use the soothe technique as needed (click here for more information)

  • It will be important for the caregiver to also be calm so that the baby’s symptoms do not go up with parent anxiety.

MEDICAL

  • Determine the root cause of the rapid respiration with the help of your baby’s doctor.

  • Your baby’s doctor may want to know:

    • If the baby has difficulty breathing or feeding

  • Allow more time for feeding with rest between sucking intervals to assist the baby with the suck, swallow, breathe pattern and rapid respiration.

NURSING

  • Tell your Baby’s doctor about the fast breathing.

  • Allow more time for feeding with rest between sucking and breathing.

  • Use the Soothe technique to keep the baby calm (click here for more information)

  • Use swaddling to keep infant calm (click here for more information)

  • Holding the baby to your chest may be helpful to regulate the baby’s breathing – chest to chest contact. (but this means that the caregiver also needs to be calm).

  • Slow, smooth rocking (while being held by the caregiver) may also help keep the baby’s breathing more regulated.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

  • Keep the baby calm and keep the extremities from too much movement or tremors or startles (which can promote rapid breathing) with swaddling.

SPEECH PATHOLOGY

  • Watch the baby carefully during feeding to give rests and to make sure they don’t have a heard time breathing while feeding.

  • Take frequent breaks while feeding to keep the baby calm.