The correct answer is choice B. Observe the respiratory effort by looking at the chest movements. This is one of the five categories that the Apgar score uses to assess the newborn’s condition at one and five minutes after birth. The other categories are activity/muscle tone, pulse/heart rate, grimace/response to stimulation, and appearance/color. Each category receives a score of 0 to 2 points, with a maximum total score of 10.

Choice A is wrong because counting the heart rate for a full minute using a stethoscope is not necessary. The pulse can be assessed by feeling the umbilical cord or placing a hand over the chest.

Choice C is wrong because assessing the muscle tone by placing the newborn in a prone position is not recommended. The muscle tone can be evaluated by observing how much the baby is moving around and how flexed their limbs are.

Choice D is wrong because evaluating the reflex irritability by flicking the sole of the foot is not the best way to stimulate the baby. The reflex irritability can be tested by suctioning the baby’s nose or rubbing their back.

The normal ranges for each category are as follows:

• Activity/muscle tone: 0 points for limp or floppy, 1 point for limbs flexed, 2 points for active movement

• Pulse/heart rate: 0 points for absent, 1 point for less than 100 beats per minute, 2 points for greater than 100 beats per minute

• Grimace/response to stimulation: 0 points for