What step should you take while supporting a woman who is giving birth?

Placing the baby on the mother’s chest and covering them with a blanket or towel is a crucial step in the immediate care of a newborn. This practice, often referred to as skin-to-skin contact, provides numerous benefits for both the infant and the mother. It helps to regulate the baby's temperature, promotes bonding, and encourages breastfeeding shortly after birth, which is vital for the baby's nutrition and immune support.

This approach supports the baby’s need for warmth and security while also facilitating the initial bonding experience between mother and child, which can positively impact the mother’s emotional wellbeing following childbirth. Covering the baby with a blanket or towel helps to maintain their body heat, which is essential in the immediate post-birth phase.

In contrast, other choices present less appropriate actions in this context. Placing the baby in a box is neither safe nor conducive to immediate maternal bonding. While checking the mother's vital signs is important, it should not take precedence over immediate newborn care. Cutting the umbilical cord should only be done after ensuring that the baby is stable and that the cord is no longer needed for blood circulation, usually a few moments after birth rather than immediately. Thus, placing the baby on the mother’s chest represents the best practice both for the baby