What is the Apgar score?
The Apgar score is a general test given 1 minute and 5 minutes after the birth of a child to determine its wellbeing. it uses the rating of five factors to judge the baby’s ability to adjust to life outside of the uterus. It was developed by Dr. Virginia Apgar, an obstetric anesthesiologist, in 1958. The test consists of measuring the baby’s heart rate, respiratory effor, muscle tone, reflex action and color and is scored from a low value of 0 to a high value of 2 which are then added. A perfect score is 10, although this is rarely achieved, with most newborns rating a score between 7 and 9. A score of below 5 at five minutes may indicate and increased risk of neurological problems later in life. The score is given as two numbers: a score of 9/10 would indicate a score of 9 at 1 minute and 10 at 5 minutes. If you have had a vaginal delivery the score is assigned by the nurse present. If you have had a cesarean section the score will be assigned by your pediatrician.
