What is the initial action when a newborn has no respirations at birth?

What is the initial action when a newborn has no respirations at birth?

• A. Provide bag-valve-mask ventilation.
• B. Begin chest compressions
• C. Hold the infant
• D. Rub chest

Answer: (A)

When a newborn isn’t breathing at birth, the priority is to establish ventilation. Providing breaths with a bag-valve-mask directly inflates the lungs, oxygenates the blood, and helps revive the infant’s heart rate more effectively than starting compressions right away. That’s why starting bag-valve-mask ventilation is the best initial action. After giving effective ventilation for a short period, you reassess. If the heart rate remains below about 60 beats per minute despite adequate ventilation, you then proceed to chest compressions. Stimulation or rubbing the chest can help energize breathing, but they don’t substitute for delivering breaths first.

When a newborn isn’t breathing at birth, the priority is to establish ventilation. Providing breaths with a bag-valve-mask directly inflates the lungs, oxygenates the blood, and helps revive the infant’s heart rate more effectively than starting compressions right away. That’s why starting bag-valve-mask ventilation is the best initial action.

After giving effective ventilation for a short period, you reassess. If the heart rate remains below about 60 beats per minute despite adequate ventilation, you then proceed to chest compressions. Stimulation or rubbing the chest can help energize breathing, but they don’t substitute for delivering breaths first.