A nurse is caring for a neonate born at 38 weeks gestation via cesarean section. Shortly after birth, the infant develops rapid, labored breathing with a respiratory rate of 72 breaths/minute, mild intercostal retractions, and a chest X-ray showing bilateral streaky infiltrates. The nurse understands that this presentation is most likely explained by which of the following?
- Persistent pulmonary hypertension causing right-to-left shunting of blood
- Respiratory depression caused by maternal opioid administration during labor
- Retained fetal lung fluid that was not adequately cleared due to the absence of labor contractions
- Aspiration of meconium during delivery caused airway obstruction and inflammation