Christine, a primipara, was observed to have thick, green colored amniotic fluid when her membranes ruptured spontaneously. Soon after the birth of her baby, the neonate had difficulty establishing respirations, appeared cyanotic, had tachypnea and retractions. The nurse immediately responded to the neonate by doing which of the following priority intervention?

Explanation

•When meconium aspiration occurs, intubation and immediate suctioning of the airway is needed.

•It was once recommended that the infant be suctioned by a bulb syringe as soon as the head is delivered, however, the American Academy of Pediatrics no longer recommends this.

•Do not administer oxygen under pressure until the infant has been intubated and suctioned. This is so the oxygen pressure does not drive small plugs of meconium further down into the lungs.

•After tracheal suction, infants may be treated with oxygen administration. Antibiotic therapy may be used to prevent the development of pneumonia.

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