The Apgar score is a way to measure the health of a newborn baby. In this article, we’ll define the term “Apgar score” and explain how it relates to birth injury law.
The Apgar score is a test given to babies shortly after birth. It checks the baby’s heart rate, muscle tone, and other signs in order to see if extra or emergency medical care are needed. The test is usually given twice: once at one minute after birth and once again at five minutes after birth. If there are concerns about the baby’s condition, the test may be given again.
Apgar stands for:
Each of these five things are used to check a baby’s health. They are scored on a scale of 0 to 2, with 0 being worst and 2 being best. The score is then added up to a total out of 10. 10 is the highest score, but it is rare as most babies are born with blue feet.
| Apgar Sign | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Appearance | Normal color all over (hands and feet are pink) | Normal color (but hands and feet are bluish) | Bluish-gray or pale all over |
| Pulse | Normal (above 100 beats per minute) | Below 100 beats per minute | Absent |
| Grimace | Pulls away, sneezes, coughs, or cries with stimulation | Facial movement only (grimace) with stimulation | Absent |
| Activity | Active, spontaneous movement | Arms and legs flexed with little movement | No movement and floppy muscle tone |
| Respiration | Normal rate and effort, good cry | Slow or irregular breathing, weak cry | Absent |
An Apgar score of 7 or higher is considered good health. However, a lower score does not necessarily mean that the baby is unhealthy. It can simply indicate the need for immediate medical care such as suctioning of the airways. Many babies with low Apgar scores are perfectly healthy.
A slightly low score at the one-minute mark is relatively common, especially in the following cases:
If the baby’s low score hasn’t improved at the 5-minute retest, the baby will be monitored closely and the doctors and nurses will continue any necessary medical care.
When a baby’s Apgar score is low, it is the medical team’s duty to act accordingly and provide the proper care. If they fail to do so, it is considered negligence and the parents may have cause for a medical malpractice lawsuit.
If your baby experienced complications because of healthcare professionals’ failure to properly respond to a low Apgar score, it is recommended that you speak to an experienced birth injury lawyer in order to recover compensation for your pain and suffering.
