If a baby does not breathe after the mother received narcotics during labor, what is the priority intervention?

In the scenario where a newborn does not breathe after the mother received narcotics during labor, providing airway support and assisted ventilation is the priority intervention. This is critical because if the baby is not breathing, it requires immediate assistance to establish effective ventilation. Airway support ensures that oxygen can reach the lungs, which is essential for the newborn's survival.

The immediate focus is on stabilizing the baby's airway and providing the necessary support for breathing. Assisted ventilation can help deliver oxygen directly into the lungs until the baby's respiratory drive returns or any underlying issues, such as drug effects from maternal narcotic use, can be addressed.

While administering naloxone may be considered if opioid effects are suspected, the primary need in this situation is to ensure that the infant receives adequate ventilation. Ensuring oxygenation and ventilation addresses the most immediate life-threatening issue, which is the absence of breathing. Other interventions, such as oxygen therapy or CPR, are secondary to the need for immediate airway support in this context.