Overview of Perinatal Respiratory Disorders By Arcangela Lattari Balest, MD, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine Reviewed / Revised Jul 2021 | Modified Sep 2022 View Patient Education Etiology Physiology Evaluation Topic Resources Causes of Respiratory Distress... Extensive physiologic changes accompany the birth process (see also Neonatal Pulmonary Function), sometimes unmasking conditions that posed no problem during intrauterine life.