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The day you’ve been waiting for has finally arrived. After a painful and terrifying process of labor, you give birth to your baby that you’ve been waiting to hold in your arms for nine months. It’s a moment that you’ll never forget. The first few seconds when your baby is out of your womb, you’ll hear them crying. But just within a few minutes, they are taken away from you by the doctor to run procedural tests. As much as you want your baby in your arms, these tests are essential to determine your little one’s well-being. The test score, called the Apgar score, lets you know how healthy your baby is. Have you ever wondered what these tests are and why they are done? Don’t worry; we are here today to give you some information on them. Read this article to find out more.
What Is The Apgar Test?
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Apgar is a quick assessment test performed on a newborn after birth. It is usually done twice — one 1 minute after birth and again, 5 minutes after birth. The first test determines how well a baby coped with the birthing process, and the second one determines how well the baby is doing outside of the mother’s womb. Rarely, if there are further health concerns, the test can be administered again after 10 minutes (1).
What Does The Test Measure?
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The Apgar test is done by a doctor, nurse, or midwife. It measures and checks the following aspects of the baby’s health:
- Heart rate
- Breathing
- Muscle tone
- Skin color
- Reflex response
The word Apgar stands for Appearance (skin color), Pulse (heart rate), Grimace response (reflex), Activity (muscle tone), and Respiration (breathing). Each category is scored with a 0, 1, or 2 depending on the observed condition. Once all the scores are given, it is totaled to a sum. Ideally, a healthy newborn should score above 7. There is nothing to worry about if they don’t score a perfect 10. They rarely do because most newborns’ hands and feet remain blue until they are quite warm (2).
What Does Your Baby’s Score Mean?
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A healthy baby scores 7 or above. If your baby scores below 7, it does not necessarily mean that they are unhealthy. Here are a few things it could mean (3):
- Between 5-7
If your baby scores between 5 and 7 in the first minute, it could indicate lowered oxygen levels in the blood. The nurse might give your baby oxygen and vigorously wrap them in a towel to dry. Your baby’s score is most likely to increase to 7 or 8 during the second test done at 5 minutes.
- Below 5
In some rare cases, your baby might have an Apgar score of less than 5. It is common in babies who were delivered prematurely or by c-section. If your baby’s score continues to be low, the doctor or nurse will proceed to give them the necessary medical help they require.
In case of very low scores that show no improvement, a tube is placed in the baby’s windpipe, and medication and fluids can be administered through blood vessels in the umbilical cord. This would help strengthen the baby’s heartbeat. If your baby shows no signs of improvement, the doctors will most likely take her to the NICU for better medical attention (4).
Remember that Apgar is a simple assessment test conducted to determine the newborn baby’s health condition and understand if they need immediate medical care. Most babies take some time to adjust to the new environment and do well with the necessary medical attention. Therefore, don’t stress about the score, and enjoy your little one in your arms! Share this article with expecting parents and help them learn something new!
