The nurse receives a newborn within the first minutes after a vaginal delivery and intervenes to establish adequate respirations. Which priority issue should the nurse address to ensure the newborn's survival?

A. Fluid balance: Although maintaining hydration is important, fluid imbalances are not an immediate concern during the first minutes after birth. The newborn’s most urgent needs are establishing breathing and preventing rapid heat loss. B. Bleeding tendencies: Bleeding issues, such as vitamin K deficiency, are typically addressed later through prophylactic vitamin K administration. They do not pose the most immediate threat to survival in the minutes following delivery. C. Heat loss: Newborns have a large body surface area relative to weight and limited ability to regulate temperature. Hypothermia can lead to respiratory distress, hypoglycemia, and metabolic acidosis, making prevention of heat loss a critical priority right after establishing respirations. D. Hypoglycemia: Low blood glucose can develop later, especially in at-risk infants, but it is not the first priority immediately after birth. Maintaining warmth helps prevent hypoglycemia indirectly by reducing the newborn’s energy expenditure.