Colorado Birth Risks

We moved from Arizona to Colorado about two years ago - and then we started a family. We didn't know it until issues kept cropping up, but high elevation commonly causes complications in newborn infants. If we had known this before, we may have reconsidered Colorado - or at the very least we would have been more prepared about what to expect when our baby was born. If possible, I would definitely avoid having a baby at high altitude. Here are some of the reasons why:

Increased Risk of Preeclampsia: The mother is at a higher risk of developing preeclampsia at high elevation, which can be due to blood pressure issues or hypoxia, as the mother's body may struggle to adapt to the oxygen needs of pregnancy.

Source: High Altitude Reduces NO-Dependent Myometrial Artery Vasodilator Response During Pregnancy

Premature Birth: It is common for areas of high elevation to have more premature births than areas of lower elevation. This may be caused by limited oxygen supplied via the placenta.

Source: Premature birth: a neglected consideration for altitude adaptation

Decreased Birthweight: Many babies born at high elevation are smaller than those born at lower elevation. This may be due to slower growth as a fetus.

Source: High Altitude Continues to Reduce Birth Weights in Colorado

Increased Risk of Pulmonary Hypertension: Infants may have an increased risk of PPHN due to in utero hypoxia and preeclampsia.

Source: Alterations in uteroplacental blood flow precede hypertension in preeclampsia at high altitude

Require Oxygen Therapy: High elevation places have thinner air and less available oxygen. This not only makes it more difficult for visitors or newcomers to breathe, it also affects newborns. Many babies born at high elevation require oxygen supplementation until their lungs become strong enough or are clear of any excess liquid.

Source: An Altitude Adjustment: Implementing a Clinical Practice Guideline in the Newborn Nursery at Moderate Altitude

Possibly Increased Risk of SIDS: If hypoxia plays a factor in sudden infant death syndrome, it would make sense that living in a high altitude with limited oxygen availability would yield a higher rate of SIDS.

Source: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Residential Altitude

Possibly Long-Term Effects: If your baby has had any of the above issues or has not gotten enough oxygen, there may be long-term health issues. For example, infants born with a low birthweight (less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces) are at an increased risk of cognitive issues and other health issues.

Source: Long-term developmental outcomes of low birth weight infants

Other Sources: 

Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension in the Neonate (PPHN)

Born in Thin Air: Overcoming the Challenges of Pregnancy at High Elevation

If I had a choice, I would not have a baby in Colorado - or any high-elevation location. I want my baby to have the best chance of having a healthy life and high altitude places just don't want to play nicely. Oxygen is good for the soul - it's one of my favorite drugs, next to chocolate - but it's unfortunately scarce at high altitude.

Our daughter was born weighing nearly two pounds less than both of her parents' birth weights. There was the concern of low to non-existent fluids at the end of term, so they did decide to perform an augmentation of my labor with Pitocin (I had already started feeling contractions two days prior) to deliver that day.

After she was born, everything was fine with her - all of the vitals taken were normal and everyone reported that she was healthy. It wasn't until our 24-hour check that they raised the alarm and decided to get her on oxygen and send her over to NICU. The nurse said her resting heart rate was in the 60s and her O2 levels were low. Two of the nurses reported an irregularity in her heartbeat as well, though others reported no irregularity later on.

She was placed on oxygen and monitored for four days and, after passing the room air challenge, discharged on the fifth day. Her heart issue resolved on its own as she continued to grow. 

As first-time parents from low elevation states, we were very scared for her in the beginning. Come to find out, this situation is common in Colorado. We were not impressed to have been blindsided, so there you go. What we learned in a fearful moment, you can be forewarned.