Question

The nurse thoroughly dries the infant immediately after birth primarily to

a. stimulate crying and lung expansion.
b. remove maternal blood from the skin surface.
c. reduce heat loss from evaporation.
d. increase blood supply to the hands and feet.

Answer 1

The nurse dries the infant after birth to reduce heat loss from evaporation, aiding in the newborn's thermoregulation and minimizing the risk of hypothermia.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse thoroughly dries the infant immediately after birth primarily to reduce heat loss from evaporation. After birth, infants are exposed to a cooler environment and must regulate their own body temperature. Newborns have a higher ratio of surface area to volume compared to adults, which causes them to produce heat more slowly and lose it more quickly. Additionally, newborns' immature musculature limits their ability to generate heat by shivering, and their nervous systems are underdeveloped and cannot quickly constrict superficial blood vessels in response to cold. Moreover, they also have little subcutaneous fat for insulation. Thorough drying helps to minimize the risk of hypothermia caused by the evaporation of moisture on the infant's skin.