Once a newborn's head is delivered, what is the next critical assessment to perform?

After the delivery of a newborn's head, determining the location of the umbilical cord is crucial. This assessment is vital for several reasons: it helps identify if the cord is wrapped around the baby's neck (a condition known as nuchal cord), which can pose a risk to the baby’s oxygen supply. By locating the umbilical cord, healthcare providers can take necessary actions to prevent potential complications during the delivery of the shoulders and rest of the body.

While other assessments like checking the baby's heart rate and clearing the airway are important, they occur after the critical step of ensuring that the umbilical cord is safely managed. Maternal comfort is also significant but is not the priority immediately after the head delivery. Thus, focusing on the umbilical cord's location directly impacts the newborn’s immediate safety and well-being during delivery.