Understanding the Apgar Test
by jmmillerThe Apgar is a test developed by anesthesiologist Virginia Apgar to assist doctors in making uniform observations about an infant’s overall health just after birth.
The test is performed one minute after the birth, then again at five minutes. The doctor will be giving the baby a score of 0 to 2 in each of five different categories, making the total possible score 10.
The first test is a look at Baby’s general appearance. A pale or blue baby will receive a score of 0; one with a pink body but blue extremities will get a 1; and a healthy pink baby gets a 2.
The next test is the pulse. A baby with no detectible pulse is a 0; with a pulse below 100 is a 1; and over 100 is a 2.
The doctor will test the baby’s grimace, or reflex irritability. If they do not respond to stimulation, they will receive a 0; a grimace warrants a score of 1; and a hearty cry is a 2.
They will observe Baby’s level of activity, or muscle tone. Flaccid, weak muscles will get a 0; some movement in the extremities a 1; and a lot of activity a 2.
Respiration is the last consideration in the Apgar test. A baby with no signs of breathing will be graded a 0; one with slow, irregular breathing is a 1; and a crying baby is a 2.
Babies scoring between 7 and 10 are considered to be in good to excellent shape. Those scoring between 4 and 7 may need some resuscitative measures. Babies who score under 4 are considered to be in poor condition and need immediate lifesaving measures.
It is important for parents to understand that the purpose of the Apgar test is to give doctors a uniform set of standards by which to evaluate a newborn. Their condition at this very early stage has nothing to do with how successful, how healthy, how strong, etc they will be later in life.
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