Some of the disorders can be inherited and some others caused by environmental factors. A congenital disorder is a condition that is present from birth. Their impact on a child’s health and development isn’t always severe, and sometimes it can be quite mild.

Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS):

RDS is caused by the baby not having enough surfactant in the lungs. Surfactant is a liquid made in the lungs at about 26 weeks of pregnancy. As the fetus grows, the lungs make more surfactant.

Surfactant coats the tiny air sacs in the lungs and to help keep them from collapsing (Picture 1). The air sacs must be open to allow oxygen to enter the blood from the lungs and carbon dioxide to be released from the blood into the lungs. While RDS is most common in babies born early, other newborns can get it.