If a newborn's heart rate is less than 60 beats per minute, what is the initial intervention?

The initial intervention for a newborn with a heart rate of less than 60 beats per minute is a combination of chest compressions and ventilations. This approach is guided by the neonatal resuscitation protocols that emphasize the importance of effective ventilation and chest compressions in stimulating the heart and improving the baby's circulatory and respiratory function.

When the heart rate is critically low, it indicates that the newborn is likely in a state of severe bradycardia, which poses significant risks of inadequate oxygen delivery to vital organs. Administering effective breaths helps to provide necessary oxygen, while chest compressions increase blood flow to the heart and brain, promoting the restoration of a normal heart rhythm.

Other options, such as temperature control and glucose administration, are important aspects of neonatal care, but they do not address the immediate need for circulatory support when bradycardia is present. Temperature control is essential in maintaining a newborn's normothermia, and administering glucose would typically be considered if hypoglycemia is suspected, but neither directly targets the immediate problem of a dangerously low heart rate. Ventilation alone, while critical, does not provide the circulatory support needed in conjunction with chest compressions in this scenario.