My Child Has... Article

My Child Has...


Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn

What is transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN)?


  • breathe rapidly (more than 60 times a minute) shortly after birth
  • pull in his chest wall with each breath (retractions)
  • occasionally have a bluish tinge around the lips (cyanosis), because the baby needs extra oxygen.

Another name for TTN is retained lung fluid.

What causes TTN?


Some babies have extra fluid or absorb the fluid too slowly. The fluid makes the lungs stiff, causing the baby to breathe faster and harder than normal. As the fluid is absorbed, it becomes easier to breathe and the baby's breathing rate becomes normal.

The process of labor and vaginal birth squeezes the baby's chest wall and prepares the lungs for the first breath. Babies born by cesarean section (C-section) without labor or babies born after fast labors are more likely to have TTN. It is also more common in babies born to mothers with diabetes.

How is it diagnosed?

TTN is usually diagnosed based on how the baby looks and how he sounds when examined. A chest X-ray may help make the diagnosis. A blood gas test shows how much oxygen is in the blood. This can help the doctor decide if baby has TTN and if he needs to be given oxygen. Other lab tests check for infection to make sure that the breathing problems are not caused by something other than TTN.

What is the treatment?

  • Special care nursery (SCN)

    When newborns have breathing problems they are taken to the SCN for observation and treatment. They are placed on a warming bed. They are attached to a cardiorespiratory monitor, which continuously records their heart rate and respiratory (breathing) rate. Often the babies are also attached to a monitor that measures the oxygen level in the skin. This monitor is called a pulse oximeter.

  • Oxygen

    If the baby's lips are bluish or the blood gas and pulse oximeter readings, he is given extra oxygen.

    Most babies with TTN will not need any extra oxygen. Some will need only a small to moderate amount of extra oxygen. The most reliable signs that the lung fluid is leaving the lungs are that the baby needs less oxygen and the breathing rate comes down to normal in 12 to 72 hours.

  • IV fluids


  • IV antibiotics

    Every newborn with breathing problems is suspected of having an infection because the difference between pneumonia and TTN cannot be detected in the early stages. For this reason the baby is given intravenous (IV) antibiotics after blood has been drawn for tests. The medication is continued until the results of the blood tests confirm that there is no infection. This usually takes 48 to 72 hours.

How long will it last?


Published by RelayHealth.
Last modified: 2011-02-10
Last reviewed: 2009-09-21


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