Newborn Transient Tachypnea Overview
Learn About Newborn Transient Tachypnea
Transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) is a breathing disorder seen shortly after delivery, most often in early term or late preterm babies.
- Transient means it is short-lived (most often less than 48 hours).
- Tachypnea means rapid breathing (faster than most newborns, who normally breathe 40 to 60 times per minute).
TTN; Wet lungs - newborns; Retained fetal lung fluid; Transient RDS; Prolonged transition; Neonatal - transient tachypnea
As the baby grows in the womb (uterus), the lungs make a special fluid. This fluid fills the baby's lungs and helps them grow. When the baby is born at term, hormones released during labor tell the lungs to stop making this special fluid. The baby's lungs start removing or reabsorbing it.
The first few breaths a baby takes after delivery fill the lungs with air and help to clear most of the remaining lung fluid.
Leftover fluid in the lungs causes the baby to breathe rapidly. It is harder for the small air sacs of the lungs to stay open.
TTN is more likely to occur in babies who are:
- Born before 38 completed weeks gestation (preterm, or early term)
- Delivered by C-section, especially if labor has not already started
- Born to a mother with diabetes or asthma
- Twins
Newborns with TTN have breathing problems soon after birth, usually starting within 1 to 2 hours.
Symptoms include:
- Bluish skin color (cyanosis)
- Rapid breathing, which may occur with noises such as grunting
- Flaring nostrils or movements between the ribs or breastbone known as retractions
Your baby will be given oxygen, and sometimes CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) as well, to keep the blood oxygen level and breathing rate stable. Your baby will often need the most support within a few hours after birth and will usually begin to improve after that. Most infants with TTN improve in less than 24 to 48 hours, but some will need help for a few days.
Very rapid breathing usually means a baby is unable to eat. Fluids and nutrients will be given through a vein until your baby improves. Your baby may also receive antibiotics if there is concern for infection. Sometimes, babies with TTN will need help with breathing or feeding for a week or more, usually if they are premature.
Yoram Sorokin is an Obstetrics and Gynecologist and a Neonatologist in Detroit, Michigan. Dr. Sorokin and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Newborn Transient Tachypnea. His top areas of expertise are Infant Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn Low Blood Sugar, High Blood Pressure in Infants, and Newborn Transient Tachypnea.
Monika Bajaj is a Neonatologist and a Pediatrics provider in Detroit, Michigan. Dr. Bajaj and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Newborn Transient Tachypnea. Her top areas of expertise are Premature Infant, Necrotizing Enterocolitis, Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction, and Patent Ductus Arteriosus. Dr. Bajaj is currently accepting new patients.
The condition most often goes away within 48 to 72 hours after delivery. In most cases, babies who have had TTN have no further problems from the condition. They will not need special care or follow-up other than their routine checkups. However, there is some evidence that babies with TTN may be at a higher risk for wheezing problems later in infancy.
Summary: Accurate and timely differentiation between transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) and congenital pneumonia is essential in neonatal care, as it facilitates prompt initiation of appropriate treatment, reduces the risk of complications, and minimizes inappropriate antibiotic use. This study aims to assess the clinical utility of inflammatory markers, including the Systemic Immune-Inflammation Ind...
Summary: Respiratory distress in term and late preterm infants in the first hour after birth is a prevalent condition. This situation may occur due to different reasons such as minimal respiratory stress, transient tachypnea of newborn, respiratory distress syndrome, and congenital pneumonia. It can be not easy to distinguish this in the first hours. This study aimed to investigate the place of the lung ul...
Published Date: December 31, 2023
Published By: Mary J. Terrell, MD, IBCLC, Neonatologist, Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, Fayetteville, NC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Ahlfeld SK. Respiratory tract disorders. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 122.
Crowley MA. Spectrum of neonatal respiratory disorders. In: Martin RJ, Fanaroff AA, eds. Fanaroff and Martin's Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine: Diseases of the Fetus and Infant. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 67.