The primary cause of RDS is the immaturity of the lungs, particularly a deficiency in surfactant production. Surfactant is critical for reducing surface tension in the lungs, allowing them to expand easily. Premature infants, especially those born before 37 weeks of gestation, are at higher risk because their lungs have not yet developed enough to produce adequate surfactant.
Other contributing factors include:
Cesarean delivery without labor Diabetic mothers Multiple births Rapid labor
