When is the APGAR score calculated?

It is routinely performed at 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth. If the 5-minute score is under 7, additional assessments may be performed every 5 minutes up to 20 minutes.

Does a low APGAR score mean my baby will have long-term health issues?

Not necessarily. Most infants with low 1-minute APGAR scores respond rapidly to medical assistance and score normally by 5 or 10 minutes.

APGAR Score Calculator — Newborn physiological assessment at 1 and 5 minutes post-birth.

What it is and when to use it

The APGAR score was devised by Dr. Virginia Apgar in 1953 as a rapid, standardized assessment of a newborn's condition immediately after birth. It evaluates five parameters (Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration), scored from 0 to 2 each, yielding a total score from 0 to 10.

How to interpret it

Scores of 7 to 10 are considered normal and reassuring. Scores of 4 to 6 indicate moderate physiological depression, prompting tactile stimulation, airway clearing, or oxygen. Scores of 0 to 3 reflect severe depression and warrant immediate resuscitation per Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) protocols.

Limitations and when not to use it

The APGAR score is intended to report post-birth status and response to resuscitation; it should NOT be used to dictate initial resuscitation measures or predict individual long-term neurological outcome.

Frequently asked questions

When is the APGAR score calculated?: It is routinely performed at 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth. If the 5-minute score is under 7, additional assessments may be performed every 5 minutes up to 20 minutes.
Does a low APGAR score mean my baby will have long-term health issues?: Not necessarily. Most infants with low 1-minute APGAR scores respond rapidly to medical assistance and score normally by 5 or 10 minutes.