What is the first action in the initial five steps of care for a newborn?

The first action in the initial five steps of care for a newborn is to provide warmth. This step is crucial because newborns are vulnerable to hypothermia after birth, especially if they are preterm or have a low birth weight. Immediately after delivery, a newborn may lose heat quickly due to the sudden change in environment, from a warm womb to a cooler room. To prevent this, providing warmth helps maintain the infant's temperature, which is essential for normal physiological function.

In the context of neonatal resuscitation, ensuring that the newborn is warm supports effective transition to extrauterine life, facilitates other interventions, and helps reduce the risk of complications related to cold stress. While positioning, clearing secretions, and drying the newborn are important steps that follow, initiating care by focusing on warmth lays the foundation for their overall stability and health.