Respiratory distress is recognised as any signs of breathing difficulties in neonates. In the
early neonatal period respiratory distress is common, occurring in up to 7% of newborn
infants, resulting in significant numbers of term-born infants being admitted to neonatal units.
Many risk factors are involved; the increasing number of term infants delivered by elective
caesarean section has also increased the incidence. Additionally the risk decreases with
each advancing week of gestation. At 37 weeks, the chances are three times greater than at …