Final answer:
A newborn's heart rate at birth should be 120 beats/min or higher, and this is a key factor in the Apgar scoring system, which assesses a newborn's overall health and immediate medical needs.
Step-by-step explanation:
A newborn's heart rate at birth should be 120 beats/min or higher. The heart rate is a critical aspect of the Apgar score, which includes five criteria: skin color, heart rate, reflexes, muscle tone, and respiration, each scored from 0 to 2. A total Apgar score below 7 at the 5-minute post-birth assessment suggests that medical assistance may be needed, and a score below 5 indicates an emergency.
The Apgar score is an early indication of a newborn's health and whether any immediate medical attention is required. Newborn resting heart rates are typically around 120 bpm, and any significant deviation from that could be indicative of health issues.