I’m an ex paramedic – here are the 5 ways your child’s breathing could be a sign of something serious

BEING a parent can be daunting, especially when you're looking after a newborn.

Often the stress doesn't end when they fall asleep.

2

2

You might feel like you spend endless nights watching your baby breathe to make sure they're doing okay.

Watching their chests rise and fall can be comforting.

But knowing what healthy and unhealthy breathing looks like can be the difference between life and death.

Ex-paramedic Nikki Jurcutz has shared some tips on how to correctly assess your little one's breathing.

Read more on respiratory distress

TAKE ACTION

I'm a first aid guru & here's 2 steps parents must take to spot deadly illness

"This is a skill I wanted every parent to know," she said in a video shared on the Instagram page.

"If your baby is showing signs that they are working hard to breathe, are in respiratory distress or you are concerned get them assessed by a health care professional."

Respiratory distress is a life-threatening condition that prevents enough oxygen from getting to the lungs and into the blood.

It's usually a complication of a serious existing health condition, such as an infection like pneumonia, flu, respiratory syncytial virus, or sepsis, or a long-term health condition like asthma.

Most read in Health

WEIGH UP RISK

Fat jabs raise chances of 19 illnesses but protect against dozens of others

ASK DR ZOE

I get up twice in the night to pee - Dr Zoe reveals conditions behind ‘nocturia’

HIT SNOOZE

Is 'sleep anxiety' keeping you up at night? How to reset your snooze in 2 weeks

TOT TRAGEDY 

Baby died after swallowing 10p & ‘turning blue’ during A&E trip for brother

Here, Nikki outlines five ways your child's breathing could be a sign of sometime more serious.

1. Sucking in at the neck

If your little one sucks at the neck each time they breathe in, it means they are experiencing tracheal tug.

This is a sign they are suffering from respiratory distress and are struggling to breathe, Nikki said.

2. Sucking in at or under the ribs

Intercostal retractions, which looks like your child is sucking in air at the ribs or just beneath the ribs - is another sign your little one is finding it hard to breathe.

3. Nasal flaring

If your child's nostrils widen when breathing in, this also suggests they are suffering from respiratory distress.

4. Head bobbing

A bobbing head, medically know as sternomastoid contractions, might seem cute and look like your little one is looking around or responding to something.

But it actually suggests the baby's lungs are having trouble getting enough oxygen to the lungs because of an infection or blockage.

5. Unusual sounds

You may think grunting is your baby's way of expressing unhappiness.

But actually, grunting is the body's way of keeping air in the lungs and build up the oxygen level, Nikki said.

READ MORE SUN STORIES

back for more

Love Island lines up series two bombshell and he’s got history with the star

BEACH HORROR

Mystery as body found on popular UK beach as cops probe 'unexplained' death

"Look out for deep noises when breathing out," she added.

Another sound may be a moan or sigh when exhaling or a high pitch sound when breathing in.