Low Apgar Scores

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5. Apgar scores, their origins, and what they measure.
An Apgar is out of ten and is used to measure the physical condition of an infant. Apgar score is obtained by using five major criteria to evaluate the newborn child: Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiration. The five criteria’s are scored on a range from 0-2 in which the results, mark in a score out of Ten. In reference to appearance, a newborn may be evaluated by looking at the color of their skin. If the skin color appears to be blue or pale all over than the score of 0 will be drawn. If the skin color does not appear to present any cyanosis, bluish or purplish discoloration, then a score of 2 will be given. Typically, a score of 7 out of ten is considered to be normal while a score of 4 to 6 is seen as fairly low. Ultimately, a score of 3 or lower is critically low. Apgar scores a typically taken at one and five minutes after birth in that case a low Apgar score will be measured continuously to detect any changes. If changes are present, in the previously low scoring baby, within five minutes than it may not indicate any critical problems for such baby. On the other hand if the Apgar score does not seem to change ten to thirty minutes after than it may indicate problems, such as neurological issues, within the baby. The beginnings of Apgar scores start in 1952 with Dr. Virginia Apgar in New York whom wanted
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Although an Apgar score is helpful for health care providers to measure the baby’s overall physical health after birth it is not a determinator of long term