What is the Apgar score and how should I read it?

Question

Accepted Answer

The Apgar score is a newborn vitality indicator devised by Dr. Virginia Apgar in 1952. At 1 and 5 minutes (and 10 minutes if needed) after birth, five components — Appearance (skin color), Pulse (heart rate), Grimace (reflex), Activity (muscle tone), and Respiration — are each scored 0, 1, or 2, giving a total from 0 to 10. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) treat 7–10 as a reassuring range, 4–6 as moderately abnormal (where clinicians may consider stimulation or supplemental oxygen), and 0–3 as a range that calls for immediate resuscitative care. The AAP/ACOG 2015 statement (reaffirmed 2021) is explicit that the score is only an immediate indicator and does not determine long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes. This calculator is for delivery-room documentation and reference; actual evaluation and care are made by the medical team.

Newborn Apgar score

Scores by timepoint