The APGAR Test

see larger photo

Soon after your baby has made her entrance into the world and been placed on your chest for the much awaited face-to-face introduction, she will be whisked away by the nurse or midwife for a series of quick and thorough tests, to make sure she has come through the birth process safely.

The series, known as the APGAR test, is carried out at one minute and again at five minutes after birth, and is designed to assess a baby's health quickly. According to American Pregnancy Association literature, "The one minute APGAR assessment reveals information about the baby's physical health in the first minute after birth, helping the doctor decide if immediate or future medical treatment will be necessary. The five minute assessment measures how the baby has responded to any resuscitation attempts."

The APGAR test was developed in 1952 by anaesthesiologist Dr. Virginia Apgar, who wanted a system for quickly and accurately assessing a baby's health in the crucial minutes after birth. Before the publication of this newborn scoring system, doctors missed many internal problems at birth, such as circulatory or breathing difficulties, because it was usually assumed that a newborn baby was healthy unless there was an obvious sign that something was wrong.

The APGAR newborn scoring system is based on five criteria that parents can remember using the acronym APGAR:

• Appearance: refers to the color of the baby's skin tone, depending on his circulation
• Pulse: relates to baby's heart rate, which measures the strength and regularity of the heartbeat
• Grimace (reflex): tests the baby's reflexes and response when the sole of the foot is stimulated
• Activity: gives an indication of the baby's muscle tone
• Respiration: reveals the maturity and health of the baby's lungs

The APGAR newborn scoring system