What factor can delay a healthy newborn from achieving oxygen saturation greater than 90%?

The possibility of a healthy newborn achieving oxygen saturation greater than 90% can be affected by a range of factors, with breathing room air being one of them. When a newborn is breathing room air, it means they are relying solely on the ambient oxygen available in the environment, which is typically around 21% oxygen. In the immediate postnatal period, particularly if the newborn experienced stress during birth, such as meconium aspiration or lung fluid retention, they might have difficulty achieving optimal oxygen saturation levels. This is especially relevant if the baby is not immediately stimulated to take effective breaths or if they have not transitioned well to breathing outside of the womb.

In contrast, using supplemental oxygen is intended to assist with increasing the oxygen saturation levels in newborns who may be struggling. Low birth weight can have implications on the respiratory system, but it does not inherently delay reaching saturation levels if appropriate interventions are applied. Lastly, positioning of the newborn can influence respiratory effort and lung expansion; however, optimal positioning has largely been established as a factor to improve oxygenation rather than delay it. Therefore, while breathing room air is essential for normal oxygenation, it can delay a healthy newborn from reaching saturation levels above 90% if the circumstances around their delivery and respiratory