The normal stimulus for the baby to take its first deep breath is
A) cutting the umbilical cord
B) the shock of being in a cool environment rather than a warm uterus
C) the pain from a solid slap on the buttocks
D) increasing carbon dioxide levels and decreasing pH as a result of blood circulating but no oxygenation from the placenta

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The increasing carbon dioxide levels and decreasing pH are the cues that stimulate the respiratory center in the medulla oblongata to trigger the baby's first deep breath. Cutting the umbilical cord and slapping on the buttocks are no longer used as methods to stimulate breathing in newborns. The shock of being in a cool environment rather than a warm uterus may cause some crying but does not directly stimulate the baby's first breath.

The Normal Stimulus for the Baby to Take Its First