22.1: Introduction
From a fetal perspective, the process of birth is a crisis. In the womb, the fetus was snuggled in a soft, warm, dark, and quiet world. The placenta provided nutrition and oxygen continuously. Suddenly, the contractions of labor and vaginal childbirth forcibly squeeze the fetus through the birth canal, limiting oxygenated blood flow during contractions and shifting the skull bones to accommodate the small space. After birth, the newborn’s system must make drastic adjustments to a world that is colder, brighter, and louder, and where they will experience hunger and thirst. They first must successfully transition to a dry and inhospitable outside world. This includes regulating their own body temperature and breathing independently. It is critical for the nurse to understand the transition to extrauterine life.