What can an abnormal result mean?
In most cases, a low Apgar score results from a difficult delivery, a cesarean section, or fluid residues in the baby’s airways. Depending on the case, the little one may require one of the following measures:
Administration of oxygen.
Cleaning the respiratory tract.
Physical stimulation so that the heartbeat is more adequate.It is imperative to emphasize that an abnormal Apgar test result does not mean that the child was born ill or will have health problems later on. This test cannot predict anything in the future.
The Apgar test assesses the general health of the baby.
The Apgar test is just one of the tests that are performed on the baby at birth. It is not designed to establish the general health status of the newborn but to quickly detect any situation that requires immediate attention.
Most babies who score low on the Apgar test respond very well to the maneuvers or procedures applied to them. Therefore, this test should be assumed as a partial and relative indicator.
Effectively, the application test is the method of simple and effective observation used to measure the holy of nouveau-né, on determining whether you vote baby to besoin dune assistance particulière or dune intervention quickly. It was proposed for the premiere in 1952 by the American doctor Virginia Apgar for a congress of anesthesia.
After nine months of wanting to meet your baby on the day of his birth, we know that you will want to meet him as soon as possible, but you will have to stay calm for a few minutes and wait for the doctors to examine your baby.
An obstetrician or a team of nurses are the ones who will examine your baby to see how he is doing and if he needs to receive complimentary or emergency help during his first few minutes out of the womb.
This test or clinical examination is performed during the first and fifth minutes; a third review may be required in some situations. After this, you will be able to meet and hold your baby to breastfeed.
Virginia Apgar was the doctor who started using this scoring system; now, she bears her name and allows us to calculate the general condition of all newborns.
What is evaluated in the APGAR test?
Appearance. Skin color. Suppose it is pale blue, pink with blue tips, or has a pink entire body.
Pulse. Heart rate was assessed with the stethoscope. To find out if no heartbeat has less than 100 beats per minute or greater than 100 beats per minute.
Reflexes. Response to stimulation. As a reflection of her irritability, the baby is subjected to some stimulation, and it is evaluated if he does not present any reaction, if only a couple of faces or if he cries.
Exercise. Muscular tone. Suppose the muscles are loose if there is some muscle tone or constant active movement.
Breathing. Rhythm and respiratory effort. If she is not breathing, if her breaths are slow or irregular, if she usually cries.According to what is being observed, these five factors receive a score of 0, 1, or 2. The total score, the higher, the better; if your baby gets a result of 7 or higher, it means that she is in good health.
On the other hand, if she has less than 7 points, she will require help to adapt to her new environment better. Low scores are usually caused by a high-risk pregnancy, cesarean section, delivery complication, premature birth, or fluid in the baby’s airways.
The APGAR test does not predict how healthy your baby will be later or what her development will be like, But you must allow the doctors to carry out the test to know if your baby has adapted well to the environment; they like you want your baby to be healthy.
Discover everything you need to know about the Apgar test
After giving birth to your baby, tests should be done immediately. One of those is the Apgar test. Through this article, we will explain everything related to it, and you can clarify your doubts.
In 1952, the renowned North American obstetric anesthetist, Dr. Virginia Apgar. She developed and initiated a technique to assess the status of a newborn after delivery (AEP, 2014).
It is done to assess your baby’s heart rate, muscle tone, and other signs as well. In this way, he makes sure that everything is going well or if, on the contrary, some medical intervention is required.
The meaning behind the term Apgar
Apgar refers to Appearance, Pulse, Irritability (Grimace), Activity, and Breathing.
The above factors are used to assess the baby’s condition. Each factor is evaluated on a scale ranging from 0 to 2, with 2 being the highest possible score (KidsHealth, 2018).
Appearance: skin color.
Pulse: heart rate.
Irritability (reflex response) (from grimace in English).
Activity (muscle tone).
Respiration (respiratory rate and respiratory effort).The medical team is responsible for adding the scores of the five factors to calculate the score. As a result, a baby can get between 0 and 10 as a score. With 10 being the maximum she can reach, almost no baby reaches that score. This occurs because many of them have bluish hands and feet until they warm up.
A baby who scores seven or higher on the Apgar test is generally considered in good health (KidsHealth, 2018).
What do results mean?
In general, the babies obtain a note from 7 to 10, which means they are not in the middle of the immédiats: they are typically adapted to the extra-utérine time. Well then, the parents will understand that you enfant to us a 10, plus an 8 or 9, which is also three, three good!
We estimate even if the children do not score between 8 and 10 are in perfect health and need only routine care. A score between 5 and 7 is representative of a passable status. Often, this will say that the child suffered during childbirth and needs, probably, breathing assistance. In the first season, your doctor strictly rubs your baby’s skin or will give oxygen using a mask.
If the result is less than 5, the situation is more alarming. A pediatrician will quickly see the baby and will produce them adapted care.