Final answer:
Initiate positive pressure ventilation (PPV) if a newborn lacks adequate spontaneous respiration and has a heart rate below 100 bpm within one minute of birth. This is in line with addressing critical Apgar score components and ensuring proper resuscitation and stabilization.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a baby does not have adequate spontaneous respirations and a heart rate of 100 bpm or higher within 1 minute of birth, the correct course of action is to initiate positive pressure ventilation (PPV). This intervention is critical when a newborn's Apgar score is low, indicating the need for immediate medical attention to resuscitate or stabilize the newborn. Heart rate and respiration are the most critical of the five Apgar criteria, with respiration starting the breathing process and the heart rate reflecting the baby's stability.
Early intervention with PPV can support the baby until proper lung development occurs and spontaneous breathing begins. In cases where the infant does not breathe independently, treatments may additionally include resuscitation, intubation, and the use of a ventilator to mechanically assist with breathing.
Newborns must transition from receiving oxygenated blood through the placenta to breathing air through their lungs after birth. This transition sometimes requires medical intervention, particularly when the baby's initial breathing efforts are not sufficient. A low Apgar score, specifically below 7 at the 5-minte mark or below 5 immediately after birth, is often an emergency situation requiring treatment like PPV.