When the amount of oxygen a baby needs decreases, we know he is getting better. If the baby is on the ventilator, the amount of oxygen and breaths he is given will be reduced until he can be allowed finally to breathe on his own. Feedings When the baby is able to breathe easily at a normal rate and does not need extra oxygen, he can begin feedings. However, often a baby is weak because his lungs are still recovering. A weak baby can be fed by passing a tube through his mouth and into his stomach.
Milk is dripped through the tube into the baby's stomach.
This is called gavage feeding. This way the baby can be fed without using a lot of energy to suck. The most common complication occurring shortly after birth is a pneumothorax. Sometimes the air sacs of a baby's lungs tear. The air that should be inside the air sacs escapes outside the lungs but remains inside the chest.