The failure of an infant to breathe at birth.

Babies who are born asphyxiated do not breathe or cry when they are delivered. In mild cases of asphyxia the infant's color is bluish and the limbs may feel stiff. In more severe cases, the skin is gray, and the baby is limp and immobile. Asphyxia neonatorum has been linked to low birth weight, late deliveries, and flattening or twisting of the umbilical cord during labor. Smoking during pregnancy is also considered a risk factor for asphyxia because it tends to produce low birth-weight babies.

Asphyxia requires emergency treatment, preferably in a hospital. Brain damage can result if the infant doesn't start breathing within about five minutes. Death can result if the asphyxiation lasts over 10 minutes. Asphyxia can also lead to seizures, especially if the baby requires intubation and has a low Apgar score five minutes after...