If a newborn's heart rate is below 100 beats per minute, what is the immediate intervention?

If a newborn's heart rate is below 100 beats per minute, what is the immediate intervention?

• A. Provide chest compressions
• B. Perform positive pressure ventilation
• C. Give suctioning only
• D. Wait and observe

Answer: (B)

When a newborn’s heart rate is under 100, the priority is to improve ventilation and oxygen delivery. Providing positive pressure ventilation helps inflate the lungs, increase oxygenation, and boost perfusion to the heart, which often raises the heart rate. Chest compressions aren’t started immediately; they’re indicated only if, after about 30 seconds of effective ventilation, the heart rate remains below 60. At that point, compressions are given with ventilations in a 3:1 ratio to maintain circulation while continuing oxygen delivery. Suctioning alone won’t address the underlying hypoxia, and waiting to see would allow the situation to worsen. So the immediate intervention is to start positive pressure ventilation to correct the hypoxia driving the low heart rate.

When a newborn’s heart rate is under 100, the priority is to improve ventilation and oxygen delivery. Providing positive pressure ventilation helps inflate the lungs, increase oxygenation, and boost perfusion to the heart, which often raises the heart rate. Chest compressions aren’t started immediately; they’re indicated only if, after about 30 seconds of effective ventilation, the heart rate remains below 60. At that point, compressions are given with ventilations in a 3:1 ratio to maintain circulation while continuing oxygen delivery. Suctioning alone won’t address the underlying hypoxia, and waiting to see would allow the situation to worsen. So the immediate intervention is to start positive pressure ventilation to correct the hypoxia driving the low heart rate.