First Breath, First Cry

— a Glimpse of Wonder entry™ (Part 9 of 9) —

Everything has been leading to this.

The lungs are primed. The heart is ready. The body is aligned. And then—after months of silence—a moment shatters the stillness.

A cry.

But how does it happen?

As the baby exits the birth canal, its world changes instantly. Warmth becomes cold. Liquid becomes air. Pressure shifts. And in that moment, a cascade of events unfolds—flawlessly, automatically.

The compression of the chest during delivery helps push fluid from the lungs, much like wringing out a sponge. As the baby emerges, the chest expands—and with it, negative pressure builds. Air rushes in. The lungs begin to clear. And just like that… breath.

But it’s not just air entering. It’s oxygen. That surge of oxygen changes the chemistry of the blood, triggering the closure of the fetal bypasses—the foramen ovale, ductus arteriosus, and ductus venosus. Within seconds, the process begins—but full transition takes hours or days. The body flips from internal to external support in stages, with extraordinary coordination. And the baby doesn’t have to think about any of it.

The cry that often follows isn’t just a sign of life—it’s a test of it. Crying helps clear remaining fluid. It expands the lungs further. It draws in more oxygen. And perhaps, just perhaps, it is the only appropriate reaction to the overwhelming shock of arrival.

But let’s not miss what has just occurred. Can you hear it?

In a matter of moments, a being that lived in water-filled silence begins to breathe air. A heart that routed blood around the lungs begins routing it through. The circulatory system reorients. Cells respond. Tissues adapt. The lungs, never before used, now become essential.

And the brain? It has to adjust too. It begins regulating temperature, oxygen, feeding cues, and sensory input—all at once. The newborn body is thrust into a world it has never seen, never felt, never breathed… and it must survive.

And usually—it does.

Not because the baby knows how. But because Jehovah designed a system that does.

Job 33:4 says, “The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” That first breath—drawn through tiny, trembling lungs—isn’t just a physical milestone. It’s the very moment when the unseen becomes undeniable. The womb gives way to the world. What was hidden… is now here.

The cry marks more than just arrival.

It is the voice of life itself.