A 28-year-old G1P0 woman delivers a 29-week male infant via…
A 28-year-old G1P0 woman delivers a 29-week male infant via emergency cesarean section for placental abruption. She did not receive antenatal corticosteroids, and there was no evidence of infection or congenital anomalies. Within minutes, the neonate develops tachypnea, nasal flaring, intercostal retractions, and grunting. Chest X-ray shows a reticulogranular pattern with air bronchograms. Which of the following best explains the infant’s high risk for developing RDS?