When a diaphragmatic hernia occurs, some of the abdominal contents, such as liver, intestines, and stomach come into chest. how then does baby breathe when born?

If severe, baby dies: That's why babies with severe defects in their diaphragms generally die in the neonatal period unless promptly and expertly treated (and with good luck). Extreme cases even merit in utero surgery, although more recent minimally invasive (tracheal balloon occluson) technique may have wider applications to less severe cases. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwzeugpinvu&feature=youtu.be.

With difficulty: Babies with diaphragmatic hernia (cdh) may have severe pulmonary dysplasia (lung malformation). This may leave them unable to oxygenate and expel carbon dioxide. Oftentimes these bables will need to be on a ventilator until their pulmonary hypertension resolves and the cdh is repaired.

Diaphragmatic Hernia: Newborn infants with large diaphragmatic hernias often have the under-development of the lung on that same side. Often these newborns do not breath very well at birth, necessitating the placement of a breathing tube and the use of temporary mechanical ventilation.

Depends: If the infant went through a complete pregnancy before the herniation, initial stabilization & repair can have a great outcome (normal lung development & few lung problems after infancy) . If herniation occurred during pregnancy, outcome depends on how bad it impaired lung development.Early recognition at birth with placement of a stomach tube & breathing tube may give baby a chance.