What is the target heart rate for a newborn during resuscitation?

During resuscitation of a newborn, the target heart rate is greater than 100 beats per minute. This threshold is considered essential to ensure adequate cardiac output and to maintain the necessary perfusion to vital organs. A heart rate above this level indicates that the newborn is responding positively to resuscitative efforts.

Maintaining a heart rate above 100 beats per minute is critical because a lower heart rate, especially under 60 beats per minute, would necessitate advanced interventions such as chest compressions and possibly the administration of medications. The goal is to rapidly increase the heart rate to levels where the newborn can sustain effective circulation and oxygen delivery to tissues, which is vital for survival.

In resuscitation practices, monitoring the heart rate is a crucial part of assessing the effectiveness of the interventions being performed. Therefore, reaching and maintaining a heart rate greater than 100 beats per minute is an important marker for successful resuscitative outcomes in newborns.