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Apgar Score Test To Check the Condition of Newborns

Apgar scores are assessed by a doctor or midwife on each newborn baby. This examination is carried out to ensure the baby's condition is healthy and fit to be able to live and adapt to the new environment outside the mother's womb. Apgar score or Apgar assessment is one of the physical examinations of infants performed in the first and fifth minutes after the baby is born. The higher the Apgarnya value, the better. A high Apgar value is considered to be a benchmark that the condition of the newborn is healthy and fit after birth.

What's the Value in the Apgar Score?

The word 'Apgar' itself is taken from several aspects examined, namely:
  • Activity (muscle activity).
  • Pulse (heart rate).
  • Grimace (baby's response and reflex).
  • Appearance (appearance, especially baby's body color).
  • Respiration.
Each physical aspect of the baby will be examined by a doctor or midwife with the following values ​​and assessment results:

1. Activity (muscle activity)

  • A score of 2 means that the baby appears to be active and strong.
  • A score of 1 means the baby is moving, but is weak and inactive.
  • A score of 0 means that the baby is not moving at all.

2. Pulse (heart rate)

  • A score of 2 means that the baby's heart beats more than 100 beats per minute.
  • A score of 1 means the baby's heart beats less than 100 beats per minute.
  • A score of 0 means that the heart rate is not detected.

3. Grimace (reflex response)

  • A score of 2 means the baby grimaces, coughs, or cries spontaneously and can pull legs or hands when given excitatory pain, such as mild pinching or flicking of the feet.
  • A score of 1 means that the baby only grimaces or cries only when stimulated.
  • A score of 0 means that the baby shows no response at all to the stimulus provided.

4. Appearance (body color)

  • Score 2 if the baby's body color is reddish, this is a normal baby's body color.
  • Score 1 if the body color is normal, but the hands or feet are bluish.
  • A score of 0 if the baby's entire body is completely grayish, bluish or pale.

5. Respiration

  • Score 2 if the baby is crying strong and can breathe normally.
  • Score 1 if the baby cries weak with moans and irregular breathing patterns.
  • Score 0 if the baby is not breathing at all.
After the things above are assessed, then the value of each aspect examined will be added up and a total value of 0-10 is obtained. The following are the results of Apgar score interpretation:
  • A score above 7 indicates that the baby is in good or perfect condition.
  • A score of 5-6 indicates that your child is not feeling well or in shape and may need breathing assistance.
  • A score below 5 is an emergency situation for babies which indicates that the baby needs immediate resuscitation.

Beware of Low Apgar Score

In certain cases, such as when the baby is in critical condition after birth, the Apgar score will be assessed again at the 10th minute, 15th minute, and 20th minute to monitor the development of the baby's condition. Critical condition of the baby can be seen from the results of a low total Apgar score, which is 0-3. This low score is also associated with an increased risk of infant death, brain defects, and epilepsy in later infants, especially if the Apgar score does not improve in the first 20 minutes after birth. If you give birth in a hospital or midwife practice, the Apgar test will usually be done by a doctor or midwife when the baby is born. If you feel confused, it never hurts to ask directly to the obstetrician or pediatrician so that you get a more complete explanation related to the value of the newborn Apgar.

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