Final answer:
When delivering a newborn, it is important to clear the baby's airways to facilitate the first breath and minimize the risk of aspiration. The newborn's mouth should be suctioned first, followed by the nose, to prevent inhalation of mucus or meconium that can cause respiratory complications.
Step-by-step explanation:
During childbirth, it is vital to clear the newborn's airways to prevent breathing complications. The first breath a newborn takes at birth inflates the lungs and is crucial for the transition to independent breathing. To facilitate this process and minimize the risk of aspiration, the newborn's mouth should be suctioned first, followed by the nose. Aspiration of meconium with the first breath can cause serious respiratory issues such as labored breathing or pulmonary infection.
Therefore, obstetricians typically aspirate mucus from the infant's mouth and nose before the first breath, especially in cases where meconium is present in the amniotic fluid, indicating the fetus has passed meconium.
To prevent the inhalation of meconium or mucus, which can obstruct the newborn's airways leading to complications, the mouth is cleared initially. By doing so, aspirated objects are less likely to be drawn into the airways when the baby takes a breath. If the nose were to be cleared first, and the mouth contained fluid or mucus, the infant could potentially inhale these substances upon taking their first breath.