Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN)
Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is a dangerous condition that may cause a baby to not get enough oxygen after birth. During pregnancy, babies get all of the oxygen they from the mother through the placenta. The placenta is an organ in the mother's womb that is connected to the umbilical cord. This pathway lets oxygen and nutrients go from the mother's blood to the baby. Until the baby is born, the blood vessels going to the baby's lungs (pulmonary vessels) are closed. The blood bypasses the lungs and flows to the rest of their body. At birth, when the baby takes their first breath, the pulmonary vessels should open. The blood should be able to flow through the baby's lungs and pick up oxygen from the air they breathe. With PPHN, the blood vessels to the baby’s lungs do not open fully. Closed blood vessels cause: Too much blood to bypass the lungs. The brain and the body may not get enough oxygen. Too much pressure to build up in the blood vessels to the lungs. High blood pressure (pulmonary hypertension) can hurt the baby's heart and lungs.