Final answer:
The RT should provide tactile stimulation to stimulate the infant's respirations after a caesarean section. Oxygen administration, pulmonary surfactant, and chest compressions are other potential interventions, depending on the infant's condition and response to initial stimulation.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a newborn's respirations are irregular following delivery by caesarean section, the respiratory therapist (RT) should provide tactile stimulation to stimulate the infant. Tactile stimulation can consist of gently rubbing the infant's back or flicking the soles of the feet. This approach can jolt the infant's respiratory center and help normalize breathing patterns.
Oxygen administration may be considered if the infant is experiencing hypoxia, but it is not the first method of stimulation for irregular respirations. If breathing normalizes with stimulation but respiratory distress is present, other treatments such as pulmonary surfactant administration might be used, especially if the baby is premature and has a deficiency in surfactant production leading to difficulty inflating the lungs. This treatment is critical as the surfactant reduces surface tension in the alveoli, aiding in lung expansion and effective breathing. Chest compressions are part of advanced resuscitation measures and are applied only if the infant's heart rate is critically low and not responding to initial resuscitative efforts.