Final answer:
Newborn resuscitation is generally not initiated for infants born at less than 23 weeks of gestation, as survival rates are very low even with intensive medical care.
Step-by-step explanation:
Decisions about when to initiate newborn resuscitation are guided by gestational age and the associated viability of the fetus. A key point in this decision-making process is the likelihood of survival outside of the uterus, which is linked to the development of the fetus, especially the respiratory and nervous systems. Current medical guidelines and research indicate that for babies born at 23 weeks of gestation, the chances of survival are between 20 and 35 percent, even with intensive medical care. On the other hand, babies born at 25 weeks have survival chances as high as 70 percent with the necessary medical intervention. As gestational age increases, so does the likelihood of survival. By the 28th week, babies are usually able to survive with medical assistance. Therefore, the gestational age at which newborn resuscitation might not be initiated is typically below 23 weeks, as survival at this early stage, even with advanced medical technology, remains low.