Final answer:
If a newborn has a breathing pattern and a heart rate of 100 bpm or higher, this indicates a good health status and would contribute to a higher Apgar score, which assesses a newborn's health immediately after birth.
Step-by-step explanation:
When assessing a newborn's condition immediately after birth, healthcare professionals use the Apgar score, which evaluates skin color, heart rate, reflex, muscle tone, and respiration. If the newborn is breathing and has a heart rate (HR) greater than or equal to 100 beats per minute (bpm), it is typically a sign that the baby is in good health. In the context of the Apgar score, a HR greater than or equal to 100 bpm would likely contribute to a higher score, which is desirable. The Apgar score is taken twice, once at 1 minute after birth and again at 5 minutes after birth, with each of the five criteria assigned a score of 0, 1, or 2.
High scores out of a possible 10 indicate that the baby has made a successful transition from the womb, while lower scores suggest potential distress. HR and respiration are critical criteria, and scores less than 7 at 5 minutes post-birth may indicate the need for medical assistance. An emergency is typically indicated by a score below 5. A normal score range is typically 8 or above, signifying that the newborn is stable and well. Newborn resting HRs can be about 120 bpm, indicating that a HR of 100 bpm or more is within a normal range.