Premature Birth
Premature babies are also at higher risk of sleep apnea due to premature growth of skull structure. These breathing issues have been shown in babies born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. In those babies the central nervous system that controls the breathing process is not mature enough to facilitate nonstop breathing. This results in significant eruptions in breathing. These breathing pauses can be from 15 to 20 seconds and result in a slow heart rate. These symptoms can begin after two days of birth and can continue up to 2 or 3 months after birth. A baby starts typically normal breathing on his own after the brain fully develops.