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APGAR stands for
A is for appearance
A pink skin colour shows she’s getting enough oxygen and her lungs are working well.
P is for pulse or heart rate
This shows that the heartbeat is strong and regular.
G is for grimace, or response to stimulation
Your baby’s normal reflexes are checked to see that all her senses are developed and she is alert to stimulation.
A is for activity or muscle tone
How much she moves her limbs shows whether she has healthy muscle tone.
R is for respiratory or breathing
This is a test to check that her breathing is well under way and that her lungs are fully developed.
What is agood APGAR score?
Your baby should receive a score of at least 7, which indicates a good condition. If it is lower she will be checked every 5 minutes until her condition improves.
Infants with a score between 6 and 4 have mild depression of their vital signs.
A baby with a score below 4 would need help and resuscitation.
A low APGAR score
A low APGAR score could be because of:
- Diminished oxygen supply before delivery
- Drugs the mother received during labour
- Premature baby
- Difficult delivery
- Excessive suctioning of the baby after delivery
