Which of the following is one of the three questions asked to determine immediate need for resuscitation at birth?

• A. Term gestation?
• B. Is the amniotic fluid clear?
• C. Are there any risk factors?
• D. What is the umbilical cord management plan?

Answer: (A)

In newborn resuscitation, clinicians use a quick set of checks to decide immediately whether resuscitation is needed. One of these checks is whether the infant is term. Knowing that the baby is term helps gauge the likelihood that the newborn can successfully adapt to breathing after birth. If the infant is term and is breathing or crying with good muscle tone, only basic care (warming, drying) may be needed. If the baby is not term, or if there’s poor breathing or tone, resuscitation steps are started promptly.

The other options aren’t part of this rapid decision framework: the clarity of amniotic fluid, the presence of risk factors, or a plan for umbilical cord management don’t directly determine whether immediate resuscitation is required at birth.