Newborn babies will have varying patterns of breathing. Soon after the birth your caregiver will probably count your baby's respirations (or breathing rate) by watching their chest and abdomen rise and fall for a full minute, or listening to their breaths through a stethoscope. The breathing rate will normally be about 40 to 60 breaths per minute. This rate can vary depending on the activity of the baby, for example if the baby is crying their heart rate and breathing rate will naturally elevate. (The baby's breathing rate will fall to around 25 breaths per minute when they are a few months old.)
It can be normal for some babies to have breathing rates of up to 70 to 80 breaths per minute for short periods during the day after birth. This is often referred to as 'breathing up' and can be due to 'wet lung' or Transient Tachypnoea of the Newborn (TTN). The baby is most likely absorbing the extra amniotic fluid from their lungs that they are naturally born with. If the baby looks relaxed and is able to feed without 'pulling off' the breast (or teat) to breathe, then this is probably the case.
The concern of caregivers is that an increased breathing rate could also possibly indicate that the baby is developing a lung infection. This diagnosis will usually depend on whether the baby has other 'risk factors' such as meconium stained liquor, Group B Strep or prolonged rupture of membranes, as well as possibly other physical signs. If the baby appears well, but just has a slightly increased respiratory rate, it can be hard to know why, until the baby breathes more consistently at the normal rate, or becomes unwell.
How your caregiver responds to a well baby having an increased breathing rate will vary on their preferences and the hospital policies. Some will simply want the baby observed at regular intervals on the postnatal ward. If the baby starts to really 'work to breathe', then they will need to be transferred to the Intensive Care Nursery.