Apgar Score – Safety Check at the Beginning of Life

A maximum of two points is given to each parameter and the total score then makes up the APGAR score. Generally speaking, this test is done during the first, fifth and tenth minute after birth, in order to determine how the baby adapts to life outside of the mother’s womb. The ideal score is 9 or 10 points, but a newborn with 7 points is also considered to be normal. If the score is less than this, further treatment may become necessary depending on the extent of the so-called adjustment disorder or any sign of depression. 

It is mainly the second and third Apgar score which are the most significant concerning the newborn’s condition, as an initial low score usually improves within the first few minutes after birth. If supportive measures need to be administered, these can be assessed by means of subsequent Apgar scores. 

Although the Apgar score has been used for more than fifty years, criticisms exist concerning limitations. For instance, the score may be influenced by anomalies, how far developed the child was at the time of leaving the mother’s womb, as well as the mother’s sedation or medication given to the mother during labor. A further disadvantage is the subjective nature of some of the criteria, meaning that only a certain prognostic nature is possible concerning the newborn. 

Consequently, this test should not be used on its own to determine the medical condition but always as part of a series of examinations, including PH value for the blood in the umbilical artery and vein. 

In spite of these limitations, it still remains, even today, one of the chief assessment tools used in obstetrics, which benefits countless newborns worldwide.