Symptoms:

The symptoms usually appear within minutes of birth, although they may not be seen for several hours. Symptoms may include:

• Bluish color of the skin and mucus membranes (cyanosis)
• Brief stop in breathing (apnea)
• Decreased urine output
• Grunting
• Nasal flaring
• Rapid breathing
• Shallow breathing
• Shortness of breath and grunting sounds while breathing
• Unusual breathing movement -- drawing back of the chest muscles with breathing

Signs and tests:

A blood gas analysis shows low oxygen and excess acid in the body fluids.

A chest x-ray shows the lungs have a characteristic "ground glass" appearance, which often develops 6 to 12 hours after birth.

Lab tests are done to rule out infection and sepsis as a cause of the respiratory distress.