eli5 Why is it important that the baby cries after birth

Question

I saw a reel on how african doctors will slap the baby for them to cry and i know for a fact that this is true and there must be a reason behind it but i just don’t get it

In: Other

Answer 1

Pediatrician here.

1) crying is breathing

2) crying is forcing air out through closed vocal cords. This increases the air pressure in the lungs, which helps drive retained amniotic fluid in the lungs back into the circulation so that the lungs can fill with air.