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

I always thought (and have been told) it is to stimulate the baby’s breathing of air, because for 9 months prior they have not been breathing the air we do. So painful stimulation is needed to get the baby to cry thereby breathing.