EmergenciesFree in the app
Newborn life support
Baby not breathing well at birth.
Source: Resuscitation Council UK Calculator
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Act
- Delay cord clamping ≥60 s if baby is well; start clock.
- Dry, keep warm (wrap / plastic bag if preterm), stimulate.
- Assess tone, breathing, heart rate.
- Not breathing: open airway (neutral head), 5 inflation breaths at 30 cm H2O in air (25 cm H2O if <32 weeks).
- Reassess heart rate; if no chest rise, fix airway and repeat.
- Ventilate 30 breaths/min.
- HR <60 after 30 s effective ventilation: chest compressions 3:1, increase O2.
- No response: drugs and UVC via neonatal team.
Apgar is recorded but never delays resuscitation.
A summary for trained clinicians. Always check the full guideline, the patient in front of you and your hospital's protocol. Spotted an error? Tell us.