What immediate care should be provided to a newborn after birth?

The priority in the immediate care of a newborn after birth is to clear the airway, provide warmth, and assess breathing. This is a critical step for ensuring that the newborn can breathe adequately and maintain a stable body temperature, both of which are vital for survival and overall health.

Clearing the airway may involve gently suctioning the mouth and nose to remove any mucus or amniotic fluid, which might obstruct breathing. Ensuring the baby is warm is essential because newborns are at risk of hypothermia due to their high surface area to volume ratio and limited ability to regulate body temperature. Techniques such as placing the baby under a radiant warmer or skin-to-skin contact with the mother help to maintain warmth. After ensuring the airway is clear and that the baby is warm, assessing the newborn's breathing is critical to identify any immediate respiratory distress or complications that may require intervention.

Weight and height assessments, administering vaccinations, and performing a full physical examination, while important components of newborn care that follow the immediate management, are not prioritized immediately after birth. These tasks can occur once the newborn's stability is assured.