Do You Know The 5 Criteria In The APGAR Test?

The APGAR test is named after the pediatrician who developed it in the 50’s. It also serves as a memory rule for the care team, as each letter is a test that the doctor must perform on the newborn.

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APGAR test: What is it?

The test was developed in 1953 by an American pediatrician named Virginia Apgar, and is a clinical examination that the doctor or someone else in the care team performs on infants immediately after birth. This test can be performed by pediatricians, registered nurses, neonatologists and midwives.

Through 5 basic tests, the specialists analyze and evaluate the child’s health.

Each of these criteria can receive a score of 0, 1 or 2. The maximum result is 10, which means that the child is in perfect health. Therefore, everything under that number requires an additional test for the part that does not have a good score.

The APGAR test is performed within the first minutes of life. It assesses how well the baby is handling the birth and whether he is likely to suffer from any complication.

Each part of the test takes about a minute. This way, after five minutes, you can have a good idea of ​​the child’s general condition.

In addition, it significantly reduces mortality and improves the ability to predict health problems. If there are problems, the care team can start treatments at once.

Criteria for evaluation of the APGAR test

Doctors use a memory rule to remember the five tests they need to perform on newborns. Therefore, they use every letter of the doctor’s name who invented it. It stands for Appearance (Skin Color) , Pulse (Pulse) , Grimace (Grimaser) , Activity (Muscle Tone) and Respiration (Breathing).

The first test evaluates the color of the baby’s skin.

If it is normal, you give 2 points. If she has blue lips, you give 1 point; and if she is completely blue, 0 points.

The second test is about heart rate, and doctors evaluate the heart rate.

If it is higher than 100 beats per minute, the doctor gives 2 points. If it is below 100, the baby gets 1 point, and if it is 0, 0 points.

The third criterion is grimaces, reflexes and irritability.

Doctors test through these through reflexes and irritability that the child shows with certain stimuli.

If he sneezes, kicks or coughs as a reaction, he gets 2 points. But if he makes a faint grimace or cries, he gets 1 point. If he does not react at all, then it will be 0 points.

The fourth test has to do with activity and muscle tone when the child is stimulated.

If she moves actively, she gets 2 points. If she only moves a little, the doctor gives 1 point. If she does not move at all, she gets 0 points.

Finally, the fifth part is about breathing.

For children who breathe strongly and without problems, the doctor distributes 2 points. If the child’s breathing is weak or irregular, the doctor gives 1 point. If he or she does not breathe, he or she receives 0 points.

Newborn babies who get between 7 and 10 points are in good health. Those who receive between 4 and 6 points may need immediate treatment to help them recover after giving birth. For example, they may need to lie in an incubator.

For infants who receive between 1 and 3 points, emergency care is required, such as assisted breathing or drip. If they get a 0, they are unlikely to survive.

In Sweden, the test is usually performed by a midwife and she does it 1 minute after birth and 5 minutes after birth. In most cases, only low scores on the test performed 5 minutes after delivery require action. Low scores are common in the test just after expulsion.

The APGAR test reduces mortality

The APGAR test has been in use for over 50 years. It has significantly reduced the mortality rate in newborns. In fact, an immediate evaluation is the best way to treat and prevent several serious complications.

Therefore, with just five minutes, they can save lives, especially in a quick delivery, for premature babies or in complicated births.

It is also important to remember that this test is not designed to prevent future problems with your child’s health. On the contrary, it is a way to get an overview of their situation and mood when they are just newborns.