During the second stage of labor, what is the first action taken?

During the second stage of labor, the primary focus is on the delivery of the baby, which begins with the delivery of the head. Once the fetal head is visible at the vaginal opening, the immediate action is to assist with the birth of the head while ensuring the mother is in a safe and supportive position. It is crucial to facilitate this process to ensure the safe emergence of the baby and to prepare for the next steps in delivery.

While assessing the fetal heart rate and checking for a nuchal cord are important tasks during labor, they usually precede this stage or occur concurrently but do not take priority over the actual delivery of the baby. Suctioning the mouth might also be necessary but typically happens after the head is delivered to clear the airway of any amniotic fluid or mucous. Thus, delivering the head is the correct and immediate action to take during the second stage of labor.