Apgar score
Abbreviation: APGAR
The Apgar score is a quick health check given to newborns at 1 minute and again at 5 minutes after birth. A midwife or doctor assesses five signs: skin colour, heart rate, reflex response, muscle tone, and breathing effort. Each sign is scored from 0 to 2, giving a total out of 10. A score of 7 or above is considered healthy. A lower score means the baby may need extra support, such as warming, suctioning, or oxygen. The score helps the care team decide quickly if a baby needs immediate medical attention.
What This Means for You
Understanding Apgar score is an important part of your 1 and 5 minutes after birth journey. In your baby's first year, you will hear this term from your paediatrician and in parenting communities. Knowing what it means helps you respond quickly and confidently.
Explore our Baby hubGood to Know
APGAR is sometimes written as an acronym for Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiration, named after Dr Virginia Apgar who developed the scale in 1952.
Related Terms
Source: https://medlineplus.gov/infantandnewborncare.html
Always consult your healthcare provider for personalised advice.
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