Babies don't cry at birth, be aware of these 4 causes

The baby's crying is the most eagerly awaited thing during the delivery process. Yes, in general, babies will cry immediately after birth which indicates that your little one has been born safely. In the medical world, this is a sign that the baby's lungs are functioning properly. However, there are some babies who don't cry or cry too late at birth, so they need further medical treatment. So, what are the causes of babies not crying at birth? Check out the full review below.

Why do babies have to cry when they are born?

Normal babies will generally cry within 30 seconds to 1 minute of birth. Once a baby is born, he will immediately adapt to the outside world and breathe air for the first time. Well, this process triggers the baby's response by making a crying sound.

While still in the uterus, the baby gets oxygen through the placenta. This is because the lungs and other organs are still developing until the baby is born. In addition, the baby's lungs contain amniotic fluid (amniotic fluid) which protects the baby while in the womb.

Towards birth, the amniotic fluid will naturally shrink and dry up slowly. This means that the amniotic fluid in the baby's lungs automatically decreases as a form of preparation for the baby to breathe with outside air.

Sometimes, the amniotic fluid may remain in the lungs of the baby at birth, putting it at risk of clogging the respiratory system. Well, herein lies the function of a baby crying at birth. The baby's cry can help clear any mucus that remains in the lungs to make it easier for oxygen to pass.

Various causes of babies not crying at birth need to be watched out for

1. Asphyxia

The most common cause of babies not crying at birth is because there is a blockage in the baby's airway. The blockage can include mucus, amniotic fluid, blood, baby feces, or the tongue being pushed down the back of the throat. This is what causes babies to have difficulty breathing so they cannot respond by crying.

In the medical world, this condition is called asphyxia, which is when the baby is deprived of oxygen during labor. According to Dr. Yvonne Bohn, an obstetrician at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California, this can be caused by several factors, namely:

Trauma to the baby while in the womb
Placenta problems
Umbilical cord prolapse
The mother has preeclampsia and eclampsia
Mother is taking certain drugs
Shoulder dystocia or labor gets stuck when it reaches the baby's shoulder

Asphyxia in infants needs to be treated as soon as possible. Because if oxygen does not reach the baby's brain, this will increase the risk of disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, autism, ADHD, seizures, and death.

The method that is usually done by the medical team is to clean the baby's entire body, starting from the face, head and other body parts. In addition, the medical team patted or rubbed the baby's stomach, back and chest, or pressed the soles of the baby's feet to stimulate the baby's breathing.

If the baby still doesn't cry, the doctor will suck the liquid from the baby's mouth and nose using a small suction tube to clear the obstruction and make sure that both nostrils are fully open.

2. Born prematurely

Babies born prematurely are one of the reasons babies don't cry at birth. The reason is, the lung organs in premature babies are not yet fully developed like babies born at full term.

This is because the surfactants (substances that protect the lungs) are not fully developed. As a result, premature babies tend to experience respiratory problems at birth.

3. Green amniotic fluid

Normally, amniotic fluid is clear. The fetus in the womb sometimes drinks amniotic fluid without realizing it. This is actually not dangerous if the amniotic fluid is under normal conditions.

It is different if the amniotic fluid changes color to green. The amniotic fluid can turn green due to a mixture of other substances in it, one of which is mixed with meconium or the baby's first stool in the womb.

The intestines of the unborn baby can reflexively release meconium into the amniotic fluid. If the green water is drunk by the baby, it will infect the baby's lungs and trigger inflammation. As a result, babies have difficulty breathing and then have difficulty crying crying at birth.

4. Mother has diabetes

Reporting from Livestrong, mothers with diabetes will give birth to babies with hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. One of the symptoms is irregular breathing. This means that newborn babies will not breathe smoothly so that it is difficult to show a crying response when they are born.

According to Elizabeth Davis, a midwife and writer Heart and Hands, women with diabetes will give birth to large babies due to the influence of blood sugar levels from the mother's body.

High blood sugar levels in mothers with diabetes will make the baby produce more insulin and accumulate fat in the body. This is what makes babies more likely to have difficulty breathing and in the end is the cause of babies not crying or crying too late at birth.