This is because many babies need to warm up a little before their hands and feet are no longer bluish.

However, even a perfectly healthy baby can sometimes get a lower score, especially for the 1-minute test, and very few babies are assigned a score of 10. Most babies get an Apgar score of 7 or above. To get an idea of what your baby’s healthcare provider looks for when assigning points, take a look at this Apgar score table: We’ll explain why this is in the next section. Most babies score around 7 or above, with few babies receiving a score of 10.

Then these are tallied to give your baby an Apgar score, with 10 being the highest possible result. How Is the Apgar Score Calculated?Įach of the factors (appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, respiration) are given 0, 1, or 2 points. If it’s needed, additional medical care will be given based on the test results. Your healthcare provider will assess or measure each factor and give your baby a score for each. It’s just a way for your baby’s healthcare provider to quickly determine what, if any, extra medical care is needed right away. It’s not an assessment or a prediction of your baby’s long-term health. The goal of the test is to see if your little one needs any extra medical care in the time immediately after birth.

It will be done by your healthcare provider or by one of the nurses. The test is usually given one minute after your baby’s birth, and again five minutes after birth. The Apgar score is your healthcare provider’s assessment of your newborn’s

Apgar score stands for