Final answer:
The most appropriate action for a baby with labored but sufficient respiration and a heart rate above 100 bpm is nasally applied CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure). It gently forces the airway to remain open, allowing more normal ventilation to occur.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a baby is breathing, the heart rate (HR) is above 100 beats per minute (bpm), the airway is clear, and correctly positioned, but respirations are labored, the most appropriate action would be B. CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure).
CPAP is a treatment that uses mild air pressure to keep the airways open and is often used for babies with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) or for conditions like sleep apnea. Since the airway is clear and the heart rate is stable, the use of CPAP can help support the baby's breathing without the need for invasive procedures like deep pharyngeal suction or more advanced life support measures such as chest compressions, which are not indicated when the heart rate is above 100 bpm. Medication administration will not be the immediate choice unless there is a specific indication for it.
Medical advances, including nasal CPAP and pulmonary surfactant, have significantly reduced the mortality rate associated with RDS by up to 50 percent. These treatments, along with supportive therapies, assist with the breathing process and improve oxygenation until the infant's lungs can function more independently.