- How is the APGAR scale
- 1. Activity (muscle tone)
- 2. Heartbeat
- 3. Reflexes
- 4. Color
- 5. Breathing
- How to interpret the result
- What happens when the result is lower
The APGAR scale, also known as the APGAR index, is a test performed on the newborn shortly after birth that assesses his general condition and vitality, helping to identify whether any type of treatment or extra medical care is needed after birth..
This assessment is made in the first minute of birth and is repeated again 5 minutes after delivery, taking into account the baby's characteristics such as activity, heartbeat, color, breathing and natural reflexes.
How is the APGAR scale
In the evaluation of the APGAR index, 5 major groups of vital signs are considered, which include:
1. Activity (muscle tone)
- 0 = Flaccid muscles; 1 = Bend your fingers and move your arms or legs; 2 = Moves actively.
2. Heartbeat
- 0 = No heartbeat; 1 = Less than 100 beats per minute; 2 = Greater than 100 beats per minute.
3. Reflexes
- 0 = Does not respond to stimuli; 1 = Grimaces when stimulated; 2 = Weeps vigorously, coughs or sneezes.
4. Color
- 0 = The body has a pale blue-gray color; 1 = Pinkish color on the body, but bluish on the feet or hands; 2 = Pink color throughout the body.
5. Breathing
- 0 = Do not breathe; 1 = weak cry with irregular breathing; 2 = Loud crying with regular breathing.
For each dimension, the value corresponding to the answer that best represents the baby's state at the moment must be given. In the end, this score is added to obtain a single value, which can vary between 0 and 10.
How to interpret the result
The interpretation of the value that appears after adding the score of all dimensions must always be made by an obstetrician, however, the normal thing is that a healthy baby is born, at least, with a score of 7 in the first minute. This type of score below 10 is quite common and happens because most babies need to be aspirated to remove all the amniotic fluid from the lungs before they can breathe normally. However, around 5 minutes it is common for the value to increase to 10.
The appearance of a score lower than 7, at the 1st minute, is more common in babies who are born:
- After a high-risk pregnancy; By cesarean section; After a birth complication; Before 37 weeks.
In these cases, the lower score is not a cause for concern, however, it should increase after 5 minutes.
What happens when the result is lower
Most babies with a score of less than 7 on the APGAR scale are healthy and, therefore, that value increases over the first 5 to 10 minutes of life. However, when the result remains low, it may be necessary to stay in a neonatology unit, to receive more specific care and ensure that it is developing in the best possible way.
The low value of APGAR does not predict any outcome on the child's intelligence, personality, health or behavior in the future.
