This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows:

In newly born infants resuscitated with intermittent positive pressure ventilation does the provision of initial sustained (greater than 1 second duration) inflations reduce mortality and morbidity?

Subgroup analysis will be performed to determine

• the safety and efficacy of sustained inflations during resuscitation in subgroups of term (37 weeks gestation and above) and preterm (less than 37 weeks) infants

• the safety and efficacy of sustained inflations during resuscitation in subgroups determined by the type of ventilation device used (self‐inflating bag, flow‐inflating bag, T‐piece, mechanical ventilator)

• the safety and efficacy of sustained inflations during resuscitation in subgroups determined by the interface (ie. face mask, endotracheal tube, nasopharyngeal tube) used

• the safety and efficacy of sustained inflations during resuscitation in subgroups determined by the duration of the sustained inflation ‐ ie. greater than one second to five seconds, greater than five seconds