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Apgar Score
The apgar score is an assessment of a newborn's adjustment to
life immediately after birth. Five criteria are evaluated:
1. heart rate, 2. breathing rate, 3. color, 4. muscle tone
and 5. reflexes. The child is scored at one minute and 5
minutes after birth.
The
individual scores for each of the 5 criteria are added up
for each assessment. A total score can range from 0 - 10
points. A score of 7 - 10 indicates any absence of
difficulty, 4 - 6 shows moderate distress and 0-3 severe
distress of the newborn birth.
|
Sign |
0 points |
1 Point |
2 Points |
|
Heart Rate: |
absent |
below
100 |
above
100 |
|
Breathing Effort |
absent |
slow,
irregular |
good,
crying |
|
Color: |
blue
gray, pale all over |
normal
except extremities |
normal
over entire body |
|
Muscle Tone: |
absent
(flaccid) |
arms &
legs flexed |
active
movement |
|
Reflexes: |
no
response |
grimace |
sneeze,
cough, pulls away |
The
total scores can be indicative of the further outcome of the
newborn.
Cindy Sundman, RN, BSN
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