Apgar Score
Standardized assessment of the newborn’s condition at 1 and 5 minutes after birth.
The Apgar score is an assessment of the physical condition of an infant after birth, created by Dr. Virginia Apgar. The score is based on five signs evaluated at 1 minute and again at 5 minutes after birth: heart rate, respirations, skin color, reflex irritability, and muscle tone.
Each sign is assigned a value of 0, 1, or 2, and the values are added to give a total score between 0 and 10. Higher scores generally reflect better newborn condition.
| Sign | 0 points | 1 point | 2 points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heart rate | Absent | Less than 100 bpm | Greater than 100 bpm |
| Respirations | Absent | Weak, irregular, or gasping | Regular respirations, crying |
| Skin color | Blue-gray or pale all over | Body pink, extremities blue-gray or pale | Pink over entire body |
| Irritability (reflex response) | No response | Some response | Vigorous response (facial grimace, sneeze, cough, or cry) |
| Muscle tone | Limp | Some flexion of the arms and legs | Active movement with good flexion |