what exactly happens to a newborn baby that cues them to take their first breath of air? When exactly does it happen?
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When the baby is in utero, it is receiving oxygenated blood from the placenta, so it doesn’t have to breathe. Actually its lungs are full of fluid.
There are a couple of different things that trigger a baby to take its first breath. Hormonal changes that are triggered by its mother going into labour, being physically handled by the doctor/midwife, being exposed to oxygen… all tell the baby that it’s not in the uterus anymore.
Most babies take their first breath within about 10 seconds of being born.
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