Do You Know The 5 Parts Of The APGAR Test?
The APGAR test was named after the pediatrician who developed it in the 50s. It also serves as a memory-enhancing tool for obstetricians, as each letter is a test that doctors must perform on newborns.
Want to know more about the APGAR test?
The APGAR test: What is it?
It was developed in 1953 by an American pediatrician named Virginia Apgar. It is a clinical examination that doctors perform on babies after birth. The test involves pediatricians, nurses and midwives.
Each of these parts of a score of 0, 1 and 2. The maximum result is 10, which means that the child has perfect health. Therefore, anything below this number will require further testing of the part on which the child does not score high.
The APGAR test is performed within the first minutes of the child’s life. It assesses how well the baby is handling the birth, as well as whether he or she is going to suffer.
Each part of the test takes about 1 minute. Thereby, after 5 minutes, you will know the overall condition of the baby.
Furthermore, it significantly reduces the mortality rate, and the ability to predict health problems. If there are problems, specialists can start treatment early.
Criteria for the assessment of the APGAR test
Doctors use a memory-enhancing rule to remember the 5 tests they need to perform on newborn babies. In doing so, they use every letter of the doctor’s name who invented the test. It stands for Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiration.
At the first test, the color of the baby’s skin is evaluated. If it is normal, you must add 2 points. If the baby has blue lips, add 1, and if the baby is completely blue, it gives 0 points.
The second test is about heart rate, and doctors need to evaluate the heart rate. If it is higher than 100 beats per minute, you must add 2 points. If it is below 100, you must add 1 point, and if it is 0, it gives 0 points.
The third test is about grimaces, which doctors test through reflexes and irritability that the baby shows at certain stimuli.
If the baby sneezes, kicks or coughs in response, add 2 points. However, if the baby makes a faint grimace or cries, one must add 1 point. If the baby does not respond, give 0 points.
The fourth test is about activity and muscle tone during stimulation. If the baby is actively moving, 2 points must be added. If the baby moves a little, give 1 point. If the baby does not move at all, give 0 points.
Finally, the fifth part is about road pulling. For babies with strong breathing, 2 points must be added. If the baby has weak or irregular breathing, give 1 point. However, if the baby is not breathing, it gives 0 points.
Newborn babies who get between 7 and 10 points have good health. Those who get between 4 and 6 points may need treatment right away. For example, they may need to be in an incubator.
Babies between 1 and 3 points, need emergency care, such as help with breathing or IV medication. If they get the score 0, they will probably be settled as dead.
A test that reduces the mortality rate
The APGAR test has been used for more than 50 years. It has significantly reduced the mortality rate in newborns. In fact, an immediate assessment is the best way to treat and prevent certain conditions.
Therefore, in just 5 minutes, they can save lives. Especially, for urgent births, premature babies or complicated births.
It is also important to keep in mind that this test is not designed to prevent future problems for baby’s health. On the contrary, it determines their situation when they are born.
