Is it normal for newborns to have large abdominal movements during breathing?

Whether large abdominal movements during breathing in newborns are normal depends on the specific circumstances.

1. Normal

Under normal conditions, a newborn's breathing is relatively even and calm, with a respiratory rate of approximately 30 to 50 breaths per minute. If a newborn exhibits noticeable abdominal movement during breathing but shows no other discomfort, this is generally considered normal. This phenomenon mainly occurs because newborns are very young and primarily use diaphragmatic (abdominal) breathing, which naturally leads to more visible abdominal起伏 (movements). In such cases, there is usually no need for concern.

2. Abnormal

If large abdominal movements during breathing are accompanied by symptoms such as cyanosis (bluish discoloration) of the lips and face, poor mental responsiveness, weak feeding, rapid breathing, or difficulty breathing, this is considered abnormal. It may result from improper warming leading to lower respiratory tract infections, such as wheezing bronchitis or bronchopneumonia. Alternatively, it could be caused by milk regurgitation or choking during feeding, resulting in aspiration pneumonia.