Often the first time expectant parents hear the term "Apgar scores" they have just delivered their new infant, and it's not really at the top of their need-to-know priority list right then. Apgar scores are generally for the benefit of medical staff to indicate the health of the newborn; however, they can also be an interesting first fact about your child.

The Apgar score was originally introduced by anesthesiologist Dr. Virginia Apgar in 1952 as a way of noting the effects of anesthesia on newborns. About 10 years later, a pediatrician, Dr. Joseph Butterfield, coined the acronym APGAR to stand for the elements of the test: Appearance (skin color), Pulse, Grimace (reflex irritability), Activity (muscle tone) and Respiration.

Apgar scores are assigned in the delivery room at one and five minutes, usually by a nurse or physician.

"The Apgar is a quick initial assessment of the tolerance of the newborn to 'outside' environment," says Dr. Russell Hoffman, associate chairman and clinical chief, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, at Overlook Hospital in Summit, N.J. "It appears to be a good predictor of neonatal survival, and could be a cause for concern if the score is persistently low (0-3) after five, 10 or 15 minutes of life relative to the possibility of neurologic damage."

Content on this site is not a substitute for professional medical or healthcare advice, diagnosis or treatment, and may not be used for such purposes. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical question or condition. Reliance on information presented on this site is at your own risk. This site contains the opinions and views of other users. Given the interactive nature of this site, we cannot endorse, guarantee, or be responsible for the accuracy, efficacy, or veracity of any content generated by our users.