Maternal blood aspiration: an unusual cause of respiratory distress in a neonate.

Maternal blood aspiration is an unusual cause of respiratory distress in neonates. It is occasionally seen in babies born to mothers with antepartum haemorrhage (APH). We report a term neonate with a history of maternal APH who developed respiratory distress soon after birth with a radiological appearance compatible with aspiration syndrome. The infant required ventilation for 36 hours. The aspirated blood was the mother's.