You have just assisted in a delivery of a newborn. The infant has gasping respirations and a falling heart rate. What do you do next?

You have just assisted in a delivery of a newborn. The infant has gasping respirations and a falling heart rate. What do you do next?

• A. Suction the mouth and nose
• B. Stabilize the head
• C. Ventilate
• D. Warm and dry the newborn

Answer: (C)

When a newborn is not breathing effectively and the heart rate is falling, the priority is to restore ventilation to improve oxygen delivery. Gasping shows the infant isn’t ventilating well, so providing positive-pressure ventilation with a bag‑valve mask is the best next step to support oxygen uptake and help the heart rate recover. Deliver breaths at about 40–60 per minute and look for chest rise to confirm adequate ventilation. If the heart rate remains low after 30 seconds of effective ventilation, move to chest compressions. Warming and drying, while important for overall stability, and suctioning only for airway obstruction or secretions, are not the immediate action needed to address the inadequate breathing and bradycardia. Stabilizing the head is part of airway management, but ventilation is the key next step here.

When a newborn is not breathing effectively and the heart rate is falling, the priority is to restore ventilation to improve oxygen delivery. Gasping shows the infant isn’t ventilating well, so providing positive-pressure ventilation with a bag‑valve mask is the best next step to support oxygen uptake and help the heart rate recover. Deliver breaths at about 40–60 per minute and look for chest rise to confirm adequate ventilation. If the heart rate remains low after 30 seconds of effective ventilation, move to chest compressions. Warming and drying, while important for overall stability, and suctioning only for airway obstruction or secretions, are not the immediate action needed to address the inadequate breathing and bradycardia. Stabilizing the head is part of airway management, but ventilation is the key next step here.