What is an APGAR Score?
The APGAR score is the result of a test given to your baby immediately after birth. The test is meant to quickly evaluate your baby’s condition to determine whether there is a need for additional care, including emergency care.
The score reflects an assessment of five factors: activity and muscle tone; pulse; grimace response; appearance (skin color); and respiration.
An APGAR score of 7 or above within one minute of birth generally is indicative of a healthy baby. Lower scores, however, do not necessarily mean that your baby is unhealthy. Rather, your baby may merely require some help with things like suctioning or oxygen. Your baby will be tested again at 5 minutes and, sometimes, at 10 minutes.
Points in the APGAR scoring system are assigned as follows:
| Apgar Sign | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Heart Rate (pulse) |
Normal (above 100 beats per minute) | Below 100 beats per minute | Absent (no pulse) |
| Breathing (rate and effort) |
Normal rate and effort, good cry | Slow or irregular breathing, weak cry | Absent (no breathing) |
| Grimace(responsiveness or “reflex irritability”) | Pulls away, sneezes, or coughs with stimulation | Facial movement only (grimace) with stimulation | Absent (no response to stimulation) |
| Activity (muscle tone) |
Active, spontaneous movement | Arms and legs flexed with little movement | No movement, “floppy” tone |
| Appearance (skin coloration) |
Normal color all over (hands and feet are pink) | Normal color (but hands and feet are bluish) | Bluish-gray or pale all over |
Most babies with low APGAR scores will end up fine. The APGAR score is a method used to
