Final answer:
The normal resting heart rate for a newborn is about 120 bpm, and for the Apgar score assessment, a rate over 100 bpm is considered healthy and would receive a score of 2. An Apgar score of 8 or above is normal, whereas a score below 7 may require medical assistance, and below 5 indicates an emergency.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Apgar score is a critical assessment used for evaluating a newborn's health immediately after birth, focusing on key criteria, including the heart rate. A normal resting heart rate for a newborn is typically around 120 beats per minute (bpm), with a range that can vary. For instance, an infant's pulse rate might be measured at 130 ± 5 beats/min, which reflects a normal condition. However, it is important to note that heart rates can change with activity, health status, and as the child grows.
In the context of the Apgar assessment, each of the five criteria, which include skin color, heart rate, reflexes, muscle tone, and respiration, is scored from 0 to 2, with a maximum possible score of 10. A healthy baby typically has heart rates over 100 bpm, which would receive a score of 2 in the Apgar system. Scores are given at 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth, with a score of 8 or higher considered to be normal. A score less than 7 may indicate the need for medical assistance, and a score below 5 signals an emergency situation where immediate medical intervention is necessary.