The diaphragm is a thin layer of muscle and tissue that separates the chest and abdominal cavity. It is the muscle that the body uses to breathe. When your child has a congenital diaphragmatic (CDH), it means that there’s a hole in that layer-or, rarely, that the diaphragm is missing altogether.
Each child may experience symptoms differently, but possible symptoms of a Bochdalek diaphragmatic hernia may include:
difficulty breathing
fast breathing
fast heart rate
cyanosis (blue color of the skin)
abnormal chest development, with one side being larger than the other
abdomen that appears caved in
A baby born with a Morgagni hernia may or may not show any symptoms.