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The Apgar score is a quick way for health professionals to evaluate the health of all newborns at 1 and 5 minutes after birth and in response to resuscitation. [1] It was originally developed in 1952 by an anesthesiologist at Columbia University, Virginia Apgar, to address the need for a standardized way to evaluate infants shortly after birth.
Virginia Apgar (June 7, 1909 – August 7, 1974) was an American physician, [1] [2] obstetrical anesthesiologist [3] and medical researcher, [4] best known as the inventor of the Apgar score, a way to quickly assess the health of a newborn child immediately after birth in order to combat infant mortality. [5]
A score of 7–10 at 5 minutes is normal, a score of 4 to 6 at 5 minutes is intermediate, and a score of 0-3 is considered low. It is important to understand that an Apgar score is not a diagnosis, it is merely a clinical finding. [9] If a newborns score is 0–3, then resuscitation efforts are initiated. Apgar score for newborn infants
The newborn is evaluated at 1 and 5 minutes after birth using the Apgar score, which assigns points based on appearance (color), pulse, grimace (cry), activity (muscle tone), and respiration (breathing effort), with each component scored from 0 to 2. A healthy baby at birth usually has an Apgar score of 8 or 9.
At birth, the baby receives an Apgar score at, at the least, one minute and five minutes of age. [23] This is a score out of 10 that assesses the baby on five different areas—each worth between 0 and 2 points. These areas are: colour, respiratory effort, tone, heart rate, and response to stimuli. [24]
Factors measured at birth include birth weight, head circumference, and body length. An Apgar score is given at the time of birth to report the status of the newborn infant and the response to resuscitation if needed. [11]
Birthing classes, also termed antenatal classes, help the parents to prepare for the baby's birth and care of the newborn. Individual fears and concerns can be discussed with professionals and others in the class. Classes include learning about the process of labor and birth and various medications and other pain management options.
The infant's condition is evaluated using the Apgar scale. [14] The Apgar score is determined by evaluating the newborn baby on five criteria which are summarized using words chosen to form an acronym (Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration). Until recently babies were routinely removed from their mothers following birth; however ...