What is an A.P.G.A.R. Score?
The A.P.G.A.R. score was developed in 1952 by Dr. Virginia Apgar, an anesthesiologist. The test can quickly evaluate a newborn’s physical condition and to see if there is an immediate need for extra medical or emergency care. The term Apgar also stands for the following acronym: Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiration.
The test is usually administered at 1 minute after birth, and again at 5 minutes after birth. If medical staff have concerns about the A.P.G.A.R score of the baby, a third test will be performed 10 minutes after birth.
Five areas; Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiration are assessed and assigned a value of 0, 1 or 2 points, and the score is the sum of the five areas. A good A.P.G.A.R. score is considered anywhere from 7-10.
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A.P.G.A.R. Scores Related to Birth Injuries
Please note, that an A.P.G.A.R. score standing alone is not sufficient to establish or rule out a birth injury related to infant brain damage, oxygen deprivation, birth trauma, or cerebral palsy.
In determining whether or not a birth injury is related to oxygen deprivation during labor various scientific methods are used. This is crucial because various components of the A.P.G.A.R. score are subjective and may not directly indicate a newborn’s clinical condition.
Low A.P.G.A.R. scores are a tool to identify the need for resuscitation and they may have some value when predicting a long-term outcome, but scores above three do not exclude the presence of birth injury.
This is why we say “Every Birth Injury Deserves to be Investigated”. We are the top birth injury law firm in Wilkes-Barre, PA
A.P.G.A.R. Score Chart
| Characteristics | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Appearance | Pale | Pink at extremities | Entirely pink |
| Pulse | Absent | <100 | 100-140 |
| Grimace | No response | Weak Cry | Cries, coughs, or sneezes |
| Activity | Limp | Minimal flexing | Active motion |
| Respiration | Absent | Irregular | Good |
Appearance – check the color of the baby for any blue spots. If the infant is born with entirely pale blue skin then the score is zero; bluish extremities will result in a 1 and entirely pink skinned body will result in a score of 2.
Pulse – if there is no heartbeat then a zero is assigned; a rate less than 100 beats per minute will score a 1 and a heart rate greater than 100 beats per minute will receive a 2.
Grimace – someone will test the reflexes of the infant and monitor the grimace response or the irritability; this test will be continue through physical stimulation such as a small pinch. No reaction to the pinch will result in a zero score; if the infant grimaces in response a 1 is assigned; if the response is a sneeze, cough or loud cry then the score will result in a 2.
Activity – baby should be moving around, not limp. Loose muscles will lead to a zero in the test whereas a small amount of muscle tone will mean a score of 1; if the baby shows signs of active motion, then it will result in a 2.
Respiration – the breathing effort of the baby is checked to ascertain whether the child needs assisted breathing. It can be a zero in case the baby isn’t breathing; a 1 is when the infant is taking slow or irregular breaths; a 2 is when the infant is crying without hindrance.
A.P.G.A.R. Evaluation System
The A.P.G.A.R. score is based on a total score of 0 to 10. The higher the score, the better the baby is doing after birth.
7, 8, or 9 is a normal A.P.G.A.R score and is a sign that the newborn is in good health. A score of 10 is very unusual, since almost all newborns lose 1 point for blue hands and feet, which is normal after birth.
Any score lower than 7 is a sign that the baby needs medical attention. The lower the score, the more help the baby needs to adjust outside the mother’s womb. A score of 4, 5, or 6 requires immediate intervention, usually in the form of oxygen and respiratory assistance, or in the form of suctioning if breathing has been obstructed by mucus.
With a score of 0-3 the newborn is unresponsive, pale, limp, and may not have a pulse; therefore, an infant with a score of 0-3 needs immediate resuscitation. A newborn with an A.P.G.A.R score in this range generally requires advanced medical care and emergency measures, such as assisted breathing, administration of fluids or medications, and observation in a neonatal intensive care unit.
The score is reported at 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth for all infants, and at 5 minute intervals thereafter until 20 minutes for infants with a score less than 7. A low 5 minute A.P.G.A.R. score clearly confers an increased relative risk of cerebral palsy, reported to be as high as 20 fold to 100 fold over that of infants with a 5 minute A.P.G.A.R. score of 7-10. The risk of poor neurologic outcomes also increases when the Apgar score is 3 or less at 10 minutes, 15 minutes, and 20 minutes.
However, it is important to remember the A.P.G.A.R. score describes the condition of the newborn immediately after birth and when properly applied, is a tool for standardized assessment and is not designed to predict the future health of the child.
Causes of Low A.P.G.A.R. Scores
Causes of a low A.P.G.A.R. score vary widely. Anything that causes trauma or oxygen deprivation to the infant can cause a low A.P.G.A.R. score at birth. Possible causes of a low A.P.G.A.R score can include a complicated or traumatic birth, high-risk pregnancy, premature infants or C-Section.
Can cause low infant scores because the placenta separates from the uterus before delivery, interrupting blood and oxygen flow.
Head trauma during the delivery of an infant can occur during the use of forceps or vacuum extractors; cephalopelvic disproportion (mother’s pelvis is too small for the size of the baby; Macrosomia (large baby); breach or face presentation; or shoulder dystocia (the shoulder of the infant is stuck on the mother’s pelvic bone)
High maternal blood pressure.
Fetal distress can cause a bowel movement (meconium) in utero during which the infant may inhale some meconium into the lungs, thus causing respiratory problems.
Such as Group B Strep (GBS) and Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)
Narcotic drugs (normally given within 4 hours before birth) that pass from the mother to the fetus can suppress the ability of the fetus to breath.
Immature lungs and hypoglycemia are a couple of problems that can occur with preterm infants.
If Your Child Was Born With a Low A.P.G.A.R Score, Call Latona Law
If your baby was found to have a low A.P.G.A.R score at birth, or if medical professionals failed to act properly, it may be medical malpractice. we can help.