Newborn with fluid in lungs?

My best friend had an emergency C section yesterday morning. She had high blood pressure at the end of her pregnancy, but otherwise everything had been normal. She's doing fine, but her son has fluid in his lungs and was transported to another hospital (Mayo Clinic). Apparently, he's not doing very well and, from what I was told, things could go very badly. I'm wondering what would cause this to happen. How serious is it? Could she lose him? And how long after her surgery until she's able to go to the hospital he's is at? Why would they need to switch him to another hospital instead of putting him in the NICU at the hospital he was born? I live half way across the country, and if something does go (more) wrong, I'll be flying back home to be there for her. Any information you have would be great. Thanks.