You can see the umbilical cord at the vaginal opening of a woman in labor. After giving high concentration oxygen, what is your next step?

When the umbilical cord is visible at the vaginal opening, it indicates a potential umbilical cord prolapse, which can compromise the blood flow and oxygen supply to the fetus. The immediate and crucial action is to relieve pressure on the umbilical cord. This can be achieved by gently using gloved fingers to lift the presenting part of the fetus off the cord. This maneuver helps to restore blood flow and oxygenation to the fetus, reducing the risk of fetal distress or other complications.

Providing high-concentration oxygen to the mother is beneficial for improving oxygen delivery to the fetus, but it does not address the critical situation of the cord's pressure. The subsequent step involves directly ensuring that the cord is not compressed. Other options, such as massaging the uterus, positioning the mother differently, or elevating her lower extremities, might not effectively address the immediate risk posed by the prolapsed cord. Therefore, relieving the pressure on the cord is the priority in this critical scenario, making it the correct next step to take.