Rationale: It remains unclear how the lung is aerated after birth in human infants. Objectives: We aimed to describe volume changes over the first breaths of life. Methods: Prospective observational study in healthy infants after vaginal delivery.Electrical impedance tomography data were collected continuously after birth. Conclusions: This study visualizes and characterizes the first breaths of life, describing lung physiology during this crucial -moment. Functional residual capacity is largely established within the first 5 breaths. The first breaths are characterized by large VT and show highly interesting regional inhomogeneities, likely reflecting complex anatomical and positional factors.
Gaertner et al. (2026) studied this question.