At 36 weeks, Ms. Hudson delivers twins by Caesarean section. Each twin has a separate healthcare team in the delivery room. What is the first assessment each nurse would perform with the infants?

At 36 weeks, Ms. Hudson delivers twins by Caesarean section. Each twin has a separate healthcare team in the delivery room. What is the first assessment each nurse would perform with the infants?

• A. Heart rate
• B. Temperature
• C. Respirations
• D. Blood pressure

Answer: (C)

The first assessment is respirations. In the immediate postpartum period, newborn care follows the ABCs—airway and breathing come first because adequate ventilation is essential for oxygen delivery to the tissues. Nurses quickly observe whether the infant is breathing, how effectively, and if there is any respiratory distress or need for suctioning or stimulation. Once breathing is established and adequate, the next step is to check the heart rate to assess circulation. Temperature and blood pressure are important, but they are not the initial focus right after birth, and blood pressure is not routinely obtained in every healthy newborn right away. So, prioritizing respirations ensures the infant is ventilating before evaluating other vitals.

The first assessment is respirations. In the immediate postpartum period, newborn care follows the ABCs—airway and breathing come first because adequate ventilation is essential for oxygen delivery to the tissues. Nurses quickly observe whether the infant is breathing, how effectively, and if there is any respiratory distress or need for suctioning or stimulation. Once breathing is established and adequate, the next step is to check the heart rate to assess circulation. Temperature and blood pressure are important, but they are not the initial focus right after birth, and blood pressure is not routinely obtained in every healthy newborn right away. So, prioritizing respirations ensures the infant is ventilating before evaluating other vitals.