Apgar Score Calculator
Apgar Score tests a newborn baby at 1 and 5 minutes after birth to evaluate baby's health and determine if any medical intervention is needed based on 5 categories: Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiration.
Apgar scoring system
Virginia Apgar, a pediatrician, invented the Apgar scoring system in the 1950s to assess the status of a newborn baby at 1 and 5 minutes after birth, to see if any immediate medical intervention is needed.
The maximum and best possible score is 10, but a score of 7 or above is considered good. 0, 1, or 2 points is assigned to each of the following 5 categories:
- Appearance - Skin tone is evaluated for color (pink all over scores highest). However, most newborns have a bluish hue in their hands and feet, and therefore lose a point, which is why it's rare for a perfect apgar score of 10.
- Pulse (heartrate) - A stethoscope is used to determine baby's heart rate, which is measured in beats per minute (bpm).
- Grimace - This measures a baby's reflex response to stimulation; For example, with a gentle pinch or tap on the foot. It's often referred to as reflex irritability: if baby shows irritation by crying, pulling away, coughing or the like, it's normal.
- Activity - Muscle tone is evaluated by observation of the baby's activity level.
- Respiration - Baby's breathing is evaluated in terms of effort and any irregularity.
If the apgar score is less than 7, a medical intervention is necessary.