But your doctor will do a little test to make sure your baby is perfectly okay. This is called the Activity, Pulse, Grimace, Appearance, and Respiration score, or APGAR.
The test, given immediately and five minutes after birth, was designed to quickly evaluate a newborn's physical condition after delivery and to determine if any extra medical or emergency care, such as CPR, is needed.
Click to see the APGAR in chart form or here's the rundown:
- Infants get zero points per sign when any of the above mentioned ones (activity, pulse etc.) are absent.
- They get 1 point per sign as long as the baby can demonstrate some of those cues.
- They get 2 points per sign for normal activity. So lots of crying is very, very good.
Anything between 7-10 is considered normal, but anything lower doesn't necessarily mean that your baby is unhealthy, just that he needs a little extra help to get his functions going.
Do you remember your baby's APGAR score? Any issues?
Written by Cynthia Dermody for
CafeMom's Baby Buzz
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