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Discussion

Grunting

What does a baby grunting sound like? I know it can mean respiratory distress. Someone said it sounds like squeaking. Grunting makes me think of a low raspy sound...

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Go to the newborns.stanford.edu site and listen to the audio recording there.

You will know when you hear it, and it's also an expiratory noise so when they are breathing out hope this helps :)

  • Author
Go to the newborns.stanford.edu site and listen to the audio recording there.

Thanks a bunch! That helped. I tried searching YouTube and it was just random videos from parents basically thinking it was cute that their babies were "grunting" (the low deep sound).

In case others are curious, here is the direct link:

Photo Gallery - Newborn Nursery at LPCH - Stanford University School of Medicine

(Click the circles in the photo).

It sounds like whining to me. And I agree that parents often thinks it's cute.

It sounds like whining. Listen to the video suggested!

We call it singing... It is like a whiny hum. Parents and grandparents are always shocked when we tell them that is a sound we don't want to hear!

To me it sounds like humming or squeaking

It sounds like whining to me. The first time I heard it I didn't realize t was grunting bc I know what grunting is and that's not a similar sound! Once u here it, u will recognize it!

you must not have typed the right thing in the search on you tube because they have some decent vids. try typing in newborn respiratory distress grunting. that may get more medical legit. hits for you

Here is a link to a terribly sad story that includes an audio file of a baby grunting.

Hurt by Homebirth: Wren's story, on the 1st anniversary of his birth and death

Yes, that is a sad story. It really upsets me, though, that they're blaming this on homebirth. It was the OBs they saw concurrently who didn't follow through with the results of the testing, nor did they explain to the couple that if she had GBS bacteriuria, she should get antibiotics in labor regardless (in fact, if there is GBS bacteriuria, we don't even do a 35-36 week GBS swab).

  • Experts
Yes, that is a sad story. It really upsets me, though, that they're blaming this on homebirth. It was the OBs they saw concurrently who didn't follow through with the results of the testing, nor did they explain to the couple that if she had GBS bacteriuria, she should get antibiotics in labor regardless (in fact, if there is GBS bacteriuria, we don't even do a 35-36 week GBS swab).

Agreed. There was a lot that went wrong in this scenario, but homebirth was not to blame. And it ended in a totally avoidable tragedy. Abx can be given at a homebirth, although my personal comfort level with a homebirth in general does not extend to below 37-38 weeks. (but that's another thread!)

Grunting can be tricky. Sometimes kids will do it as they transition, esp the late pretermers, and go on to do well. Regardless, if you have a grunter, it warrants close obs. It does sound a lot like 'singing'.

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