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Transition from fetal to neonatal respiration

Dr. Morley also suggested I read the paper by Mercer and Skovgaard (2002)

and

that of Gunther (1957)

Gunther (1957) reported results of her measurements of weight gain

from

placental

transfusion during the minutes following birth [1].

Mercer and Skovgaard (2002) reviewed the sequence of events that

must

occur for

a newborn infant to make the transition from placental

to pulmonary

respiration [2].

Both of these papers discussed the work of Jaykka, who demonstrated that

inflation

of the lungs occurs only after the capillaries surrounding the alveoli

are filled with

blood [3]. Jaykka further showed that ventilation of fetal lungs

leads to patchy

inflation of lung tissue closest to the airways. Transfusion

with blood leads to

full

inflation of all lobes.

The papers by Jaykka have been largely overlooked despite their

importance

for

understanding that placental blood is respiratory blood, and

its transfer to

the lungs

following birth is crucial for survival and health of the

infant.

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Gunther M. The transfer of blood between baby and placenta in the minutes
after birth. Lancet. 1957 Jun 22;272(6982):1277-80.
Mercer JS, Skovgaard RL. Neonatal transitional physiology: A new paradigm.
J Perinat Neonatal Nurs. 2002 Mar;15(4):56-75. See abstract in PubMed.
Jäykkä S. Capillary erection and lung expansion; an experimental study of the
effect of liquid pressure applied to the capillary network of excised fetal lungs.
Acta Paediatr Suppl. 1957 Jan;46(suppl 112):1-91.