Apgar score or an Apgar score assessment is performed by a doctor or midwife on each newborn. This check is carried out for ensure condition of a healthy and fit baby to be able to live and adapt to a new environment outside the mother's womb.
The Apgar score test is a physical examination of the baby which is carried out in the first and fifth minutes after the baby is born. The higher the Apgar score, the better. A high Apgar score is considered to be a benchmark that the condition of a newborn is healthy and fit after birth.
Like what Score on Apgar Score?
The word 'Apgar' itself is taken from several aspects examined, namely:
- Aactivity (muscle activity).
- Pulcer (heart rate).
- Grimace (infant responses and reflexes).
- Aappearance (appearance, especially the color of the baby's body).
- Rinspiration (respiration).
Each of the physical aspects of the baby will be examined by a doctor or midwife by giving a score and the results of the assessment as follows:
1. Activity (muscle activity)
- A score of 2 means the baby appears to be active and strong.
- A score of 1 means the baby is moving, but weak and inactive.
- A score of 0 means the baby does not move at all.
2. pulse (heart rate)
- A score of 2 means the baby's heart beats at more than 100 beats per minute.
- A score of 1 means the baby's heart beats at less than 100 beats per minute.
- A score of 0 means that the heart rate is not detected.
3. Grimace (reflex response)
- A score of 2 means that the baby grimaced, coughed, or cried spontaneously and could withdraw the leg or hand when given a painful stimulus, such as a light pinch or a flick of the foot.
- A score of 1 means the baby only grimaced or cried only when stimulated.
- A score of 0 means that the baby does not respond at all to the given stimulus.
4. Appearance (body color)
- Score 2 if the baby's body color is reddish, this is a normal baby's body color.
- Score 1 if the body color is normal, but the hands or feet are bluish.
- Score 0 if the baby's entire body is completely gray, bluish, or pale.
5. Respiration (respiration)
- Score 2 if the baby cries loudly and can breathe normally.
- Score 1 if the baby cries weakly with moaning and irregular breathing patterns.
- Score 0 if the baby is not breathing at all.
After the things above have been assessed, the scores for each aspect examined will be added up and a total score of 0-10 will be obtained. The following is the interpretation of the Apgar score:
- A score above 7 indicates that the baby is in good or perfect condition.
- A score of 5-6 indicates your little one is not healthy or fit and may need breathing assistance.
- A score below 5 is an emergency in the infant which indicates that the infant requires immediate resuscitation.
Beware of Low Apgar Scores
In certain cases, such as when the baby's condition is critical after birth, the Apgar score will be assessed again at the 10th minute, 15th minute, and 20th minute to monitor the development of the baby's condition.
The critical condition of the baby can be seen from the results of the low total Apgar score, which is 0-3. This low score is also associated with an increased risk of infant death, brain defects, and epilepsy in later life, especially if the Apgar score does not improve in the first 20 minutes after birth.
If you gave birth in a hospital or at a midwife's practice, the Apgar test will usually be done by a doctor or midwife at the time the baby is born. If you feel confused, it never hurts to ask your obstetrician or pediatrician directly so that you get a more complete explanation regarding the Apgar score of your newborn.