The Apgar score is a test given to newborns soon after birth. This test checks a baby's heart rate, muscle tone, and other signs to see if extra medical care or emergency care is needed.
Babies usually get the test twice: 1 minute after birth, and again 5 minutes after they're born. If there are concerns, a baby may get the test again. The Apgar score measures five things to check a baby's health. Each is scored on a scale of 0 to 2, with 2 being the best score:. Doctors, midwives, or nurses add up these five factors for the Apgar score. Scores are between 10 and 0. Ten is the highest score possible, but few babies get it. That's because most babies' hands and feet remain blue until they have warmed up.
It is normal for a baby to get a lower score than 10, and does not automatically mean your baby is going to encounter complications. The doctor will examine the physical appearance of the child, focusing on the skin color of the hands and feet. The doctor will use a stethoscope to measure the newborn baby's heart rate. This is generally considered the most important part of the Apgar Score. The grimace part of the Apgar Score is also known as reflex irritability, which measures a baby's response to stimulation.
This part of the test could include the doctor giving the newborn a slight pinch. The activity score measures a newborn's muscle tone and physical activity of the child. The doctor will extend the arms and legs and watch the newborn flex and move their muscles in response.
The final Apgar score is calculated by added up the scores for each of the 5 components of the test. The highest possible total score is 15 and the lowest is 0. Any score higher than 7 is generally considered to be a sign of good health. Many babies get a total score lower than 10 for basically harmless reasons, such as parts of the body taking a longer time to gain color.
If a baby has a low score, it does not necessarily mean they will not grow into a healthy child, but could indicate that they need additional neonatal care. Some babies that have an increased risk of getting a lower score, which include premature babies , C-section deliveries , and babies that had a complicated or traumatic labor and delivery. In recent years, many doctors have questioned whether the Apgar test is still the best test, arguing that cord blood gasses would be a better test.
As a practical matter, some doctor complain that Apgar testing is not reliable and is misused in birth injury lawsuits by trial lawyers. Still, the Apgar test remains the gold standard test for gauging the health of a newborn. Parents should not immediately worry if their baby receives a low score, especially within the first few minutes after birth. Most babies who receive a low Apgar score will still be healthy and grow properly, even for those who may experience complications.
A low score alone does not lead to a prediction of an unhealthy child. Apgar score. In rare cases, the test will be done 10 minutes after birth.
Virginia Apgar, MD introduced the Apgar score in How the Test is Performed. The Apgar test is done by a doctor, midwife, or nurse. The provider examines the baby's: Breathing effort Heart rate Muscle tone Reflexes Skin color Each category is scored with 0, 1, or 2, depending on the observed condition. Breathing effort: If the infant is not breathing, the respiratory score is 0. If the respirations are slow or irregular, the infant scores 1 for respiratory effort. If the infant cries well, the respiratory score is 2.
Heart rate is evaluated by stethoscope. This is the most important assessment: If there is no heartbeat, the infant scores 0 for heart rate. If heart rate is less than beats per minute, the infant scores 1 for heart rate. If heart rate is greater than beats per minute, the infant scores 2 for heart rate. Muscle tone: If muscles are loose and floppy, the infant scores 0 for muscle tone.
If there is some muscle tone, the infant scores 1. If there is active motion, the infant scores 2 for muscle tone. Grimace response or reflex irritability is a term describing response to stimulation, such as a mild pinch: If there is no reaction, the infant scores 0 for reflex irritability.
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