There will be further checks and examinations over the coming weeks which will assess your baby's health (NICE 2014).įind out how your health visitor will check your baby is growing well.ĪAP. The Apgar score is only one measure of your newborn's health. Remember, if your baby has a low score at five minutes she may still be perfectly healthy, as most babies are. The Apgar score isn't designed to predict your baby's long-term health or development (ACOG 2006). There is some evidence that low scores at the five-minute mark are associated with a greater risk of problems, such as cerebral palsy (Lie et al 2010, NCCWCH 2014). Most babies with a low Apgar score beyond the first minute of life recover quickly and go on to do well (Kent 2011). Can the Apgar score predict future health problems?Perhaps, but we don't know for sure. If your baby achieves a low score, the Apgar score will be used again later and until your baby is in a good and stable condition (NCCWCH 2014). A paediatrician will be called to offer extra help. If your baby scores below five, she may be placed on a sloping pad to give her the heat, light and oxygen she needs.Your midwife may vigorously rub your baby's skin, suction her airways, or give her oxygen. ![]() If your baby scores between five and seven, she's in fair condition but may require help with breathing.If your baby scores between eight and 10, she's in good to excellent condition and will usually need only routine care.So it's possible that the Apgar score doesn't reflect your baby's true condition (ACOG 2006). ![]() It's worth noting that there are some conditions that may keep scores artificially low, such as: What do the scores mean?Most newborns score between seven and 10 and don't need any immediate treatment, such as help with breathing. As these are often slightly blue after your baby's birth anyway (AAP 2015, Blake 2010, Nall 2018), your doctor or midwife may also then check the colour of your baby's nail beds, tongue and mouth (Eichenwald 2020). ![]() It can be harder to detect bluish skin or a lack of colour in black and Asian babies (Eichenwald 2020) so your doctor or midwife may check the palms of your baby's hands or the soles of their feet (ECH nd, Family Education nd). Your baby's skin colour is looked at to see if their blood is circulating properly. Your midwife uses the scale each time to assess whether your baby needs any immediate help and to record your baby's early wellbeing in the notes. Each factor in the table below is given a score between zero and two, which are then added up to give the Apgar score for each check. How does the Apgar score work?At one minute after birth, and again at five minutes after birth, your midwife will evaluate your baby's wellbeing. The procedure has been a routine part of giving birth since anaesthetist Virginia Apgar published it back in 1953. ![]() The Apgar score is so quick and easy to do that when your midwife carries it out, you may not even notice. This Apgar score will help to decide if your baby needs any immediate treatment during the first moments of her life. Once carried out, the results of the check are given as a score out of 10. What is the Apgar score?The Apgar score is a simple, painless and effective check used by midwives and doctors to assess your newborn's health.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |