The Apgar score is a system used to evaluate newborns on five criteria: heart rate, breathing effort, muscle tone, reflexes, and skin color. Scores are given on each criterion on a scale of 0-2 at one and five minutes after birth. The total score out of 10 indicates the baby's overall health, with lower scores potentially signifying need for extra care. Developed in 1952 by Dr. Virginia Apgar, it provides doctors a quick way to assess a newborn's condition at birth.

1. Dr. Peteti Sairam,
MPT (Neuro)
Asst. professor

2.  In the year 1952 ‘Dr. VIRGINIA APGAR’ created the system
and used her name as a mnemonic for each of the five
categories that a person will score.
 The Apgar score is a scoring system medical professionals use
to assess newborns one minute and five minutes after they’re
born.
 Medical professionals use this score to quickly relay the status
of a newborn’s overall condition. Low Apgar scores may
indicate the baby needs special care, such as extra help with
their breathing.

3.  The Apgar scoring system is divided into 5 categories.
 Each category receives a score of 0 to 2 points.
 A child will receive an overall score of 10. However, a baby rarely
scores a 10 in the first few moments of life.
 This is because most babies have blue hands or feet immediately
after birth.

4.  0 points: If muscles are loose and floppy.
 1 point: If there is some muscle tone (limbs flexed).
 2 points: If there is active motion.

5.  0 points- If there is no heartbeat.
 1 point- If heart rate is less than 100 beats per minute.
 2 points- If heart rate is greater than 100 beats per
minute.
 Heart rate is evaluated by stethoscope.

6. Grimace response or reflex irritability is a term
describing response to stimulation, such as a mild
pinch
 0 points: If there is no reaction.
 1 point: If there is grimacing.
 2 points : If there is grimacing and a cough, sneeze, or
vigorous cry.

7.  0 points- If the skin color is blue, bluish-gray, or pale
all over.
 1 point- If the body is pink and the extremities are
blue.
 2 points- If the entire body is pink.

8.  0 points: If the infant is not breathing or Absence of
breathing
 1 point: If the respirations are slow or irregular, weak
crying
 2 points: If the infant cries well cry.

9.  At five minutes, the baby has ideally improved.
 If the score is very low after five minutes, the medical
staff may reassess the score after 10 minutes.
 Doctors expect that some babies may have lower
Apgar scores.
These include:
 Premature babies
 Babies born via cesarean delivery
 Babies who had complicated deliveries