The Apgar Scale: Your Baby's First Test Immediately After Birth

Throughout a woman's pregnancy, she is poked, prodded and tested a countless number of times, all to protect and check her unborn child. Sonograms are done to check the growth and the sex of the fetus, and the fetal tones are checked at each visit to ensure that the baby's heart rate is within normal ranges. Once the baby arrives, it's his turn to be checked, and the first test he will receive is known as the Apgar Scale.

The Apgar Scale, which was developed by Virginia Apgar in 1952, is a simple method that is done immediately after delivery. The method is done twice, one minute after birth and then again at five minutes after birth. The scores from each test are combined for the final Apgar Scale result. This test is necessary to help detect any problems that may need immediate and emergency attention.

The Apgar Scale is based on the following evaluations:

**Respiration **Heart Rate **Muscle Tone **Color **Reflex Response

All results are based on a score of 1-10. A score of eight to ten is excellent and means that the newborn is in no need of medical attention, while a score between five to seven may require minimal medical attention. A score under five usually means medical treatment is immediate and necessary.

The Apgar Scale is a simple and effective way to measure a newborn's health and ensure that he receives the medical attention he may need. While many factors can surround an Apgar Score result, most are very accurate in determining the health of a newborn.

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