This test measures how healthy a baby is based off numerous factors, including the baby's appearance, heart rate, reflexes, and other criteria. The goal of the test is to help prevent infant mortality and to determine if immediate medical care is needed.
Again, the test is usually administered at two separate time intervals after birth. The first Apgar test is administered at the 1-minute mark after birth. The results of this test are known as the 1-minute Apgar score. The second test is done 5 minutes after birth and is known as the 5-minute Apgar score. So you typically get a 5-minute Apgar score and a -minute score. If there are concerns about a baby's health and there is a low Apgar score, the test may be given multiple times.
In rare or critical cases, the test may be repeated until 10 minutes after birth. You see this more with a preterm birth, an infant that needs resuscitation, and other children at greater risk for neonatal mortality.
The Apgar Score dates back to when it was first developed by an anesthesiologist named Virginia Apgar, who was studying and quantifying the effects of obstetric anesthesia on newborns. Today the Apgar test and the Apgar scoring system is universally recognized as the standard method of neonatal assessment.
Performing 1 minute and 5 minute Apgar tests are standard procedure in labor and delivery rooms across the United States. For each category, the newborn baby is ranked from , with 2 being the highest score. After ranking, the sum of each criteria is added up to determine an overall score between 1 and 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.
APGAR scores range from zero to two for each condition with a maximum final total score of ten. At the one minute APGAR, scores between seven and ten indicate that the baby will need only routine post-delivery care. Scores between four and six indicate that some assistance for breathing might be required. Scores under four can call for prompt, lifesaving measures. If the score falls below seven, the baby will continue to be monitored and retested every five minutes for up to twenty minutes.
Lower than normal scores do not mean that there will be permanent health problems with the child. Heart rate: 0 — No heart rate 1 — Fewer than beats per minute indicates that the baby is not very responsive.
Cunningham, F. Gary, et al, Ch. Text Size. Apgar Scores. Page Content. What Does the Apgar Test Measure? The test measures your baby's: Heart rate Breathing Muscle tone Reflex response Color It cannot predict how healthy she will be as she grows up or how she will develop; nor does it indicate how bright she is or what her personality is like. How is the Apgar Test Scored? If your baby's Apgar scores are between 5 and 7 at one minute, she may have experienced some problems during birth that lowered the oxygen in her blood.
In this case, the hospital nursing staff probably will dry her vigorously with a towel while oxygen is held under her nose. This should start her breathing deeply and improve her oxygen supply so that her five-minute Apgar scores total between 8 and A small percentage of newborns have Apgar scores of less than 5. For example, babies born prematurely or delivered by emergency C-section are more likely to have low scores than infants with normal births.
These scores may reflect difficulties the baby experienced during labor or problems with her heart or respiratory system. What if Your Baby Scores Low? The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.
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