Apgar Score

Apgar Score: The Apgar score is a test used to measure the vital signs of a baby at birth.

The Apgar score is now used worldwide to quickly assess the health of an infant one minute and five minutes after birth. The 1-minute Apgar score measures how well the newborn tolerated the birthing process. The 5-minute Apgar score assesses how well the newborn is adapting to the environment. What Will

Happen?:

At one and five minutes after your baby is born, the attending health care provider will assess five vital areas of newborn health. The Apgar score uses measures of 0, 1, or 2 for each category, with the best possible total score equaling 10. 1.

Heart

Rate:

a. Absent heartbeat = 0. b. Slow heartbeat (less than 100 beats bea ts per minute) = 1. c. Adequate heartbeat (more than 100 beats per minute) = 2. 2. Respiration: a. Not breathing = 0. b. Weak cry, irregular breathing = 1. c. Strong cry = 2.

3.

Muscle Tone: a. Limp, flaccid = 0. b. Some flexing or bending = 1. c. Active motion = 2.

4. Response to Stimulation (also called Reflex Irritability): a. No response = 0. b. Grimace = 1. c. Vigorous cry or withdrawal = 2. 5. Color: a. Pale or blue = 0. b. Normal color body but blue extremities = 1. c. Normal color = 2. R esults:

A score of seven to 10 is normal and indicates your newborn is in good condition. A score of 10 is very unusual. Almost all newborns lose one point for blue hands and feet. Any score less than seven indicates your baby needs assistance making the transition to life outside the womb. Health-care personnel should take appropriate action, for example, helping the infant breathe. The Apgar score may be repeated at 10 minutes and later to assess the effectiveness of the intervention or treatment.

APGAR  Scoring for Newborns A score is given for each sign at one minute and five minutes after the birth. If there are problems with the baby an additional score is given at 10 minutes. A score of 7-10 is considered normal, while 4-7 might require some resuscitative measures, and a baby with apgars of  3 and below requires immediate resuscitation. Sign

0 Points

1 Point

2 Points

Activity (Muscle Tone)

Absent

Arms and Legs Flexed

Active Movement

Pulse

Absent

Below 100 bpm

Above 100 bpm

No Response

Grimace

Appearance (Skin

Blue-gray, pale all

Normal, except for

Normal over entire

Color)

over

extremities

body

Respiration

Absent

Slow, irregular

Good, crying

A

P

Grimace (Reflex G

A

R 

Irritability)

Sneeze, cough, pulls away