What is the purpose of the Apgar score?

The Apgar score serves a crucial purpose in neonatal assessment by evaluating the health of a newborn immediately after birth, specifically at one and five minutes. This quick scoring system helps healthcare providers determine how well the baby tolerated the birthing process and whether immediate medical intervention is required.

The score is based on five criteria: appearance (skin color), pulse (heart rate), grimace response (reflexes), activity (muscle tone), and respiration (breathing effort). Each criterion is scored from 0 to 2, leading to a total score ranging from 0 to 10. A higher score indicates better overall health and a lower risk of complications requiring prompt medical attention.

While assessing the mother's health post-delivery, determining labor progression, or evaluating the necessity of a cesarean section are important aspects of maternal and neonatal care, they fall outside the specific purpose of the Apgar score, which is strictly focused on the well-being of the newborn immediately after birth.