What is the primary purpose of monitoring blood pressure in post-resuscitation care for a newborn?

The primary purpose of monitoring blood pressure in post-resuscitation care for a newborn is to evaluate the effectiveness of resuscitation efforts. After a newborn undergoes resuscitation, blood pressure serves as a critical indicator of cardiovascular stability. A sufficient blood pressure reading demonstrates that the newborn's circulation is adequate and that the resuscitation interventions, such as chest compressions and medications, have successfully restored blood flow and oxygen delivery to vital organs. Monitoring blood pressure enables healthcare providers to quickly identify any ongoing instability or complications, allowing for timely interventions to support the newborn’s recovery.

Other options pertain to important aspects of post-resuscitation monitoring but do not directly relate to the immediate assessment of resuscitation success. For instance, assessing fluid retention can be important but is more relevant to ongoing care rather than immediate resuscitation outcomes. Similarly, determining readiness for feeding and monitoring for potential infections are also significant but fall outside the immediate evaluation of how successful the resuscitation process was. Thus, the focus on evaluating the effectiveness of resuscitation efforts through blood pressure monitoring is the most critical aspect in this context.