Answer to Question 1
ANS: D
To adapt to extrauterine life, the newborn must quickly breathe and maintain respirations and replace fluid in the lungs with air. Mucus and fluid must be suctioned from the newborn's airway to facilitate breathing and prevent respiratory distress. The newborn breathes through his or her nose, and any nasal obstruction can cause respiratory difficulty because the newborn will not typically mouth breathe.
Answer to Question 2
ANS: A
Although all vital signs are barely abnormal (normal: temperature 36.5 C 97.7 F, heart rate 110-160 beats/minute, respiratory rate 30-60 breaths/minute with 5- to 15-second pauses), the health care provider should be notified because these may be early signs of cold stress or other abnormality. The infant should be warmed before rechecking vital signs. The infant may be returned to its mother for rooming-in but only after health care provider has been notified.