When should the APGAR assessment be conducted?

The APGAR assessment is a quick and standardized method used to evaluate the health of a newborn immediately after birth. It assesses five criteria: Appearance (skin color), Pulse (heart rate), Grimace response (reflexes), Activity (muscle tone), and Respiration (breathing effort).

Conducting the APGAR assessment at both 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth is crucial. The 1-minute score helps determine how well the newborn tolerated the birthing process and the 5-minute score shows how well the baby is doing outside the womb. This timing is essential for identifying any immediate need for medical intervention. The 10-minute assessment is not standard practice, and ongoing hourly assessments are not typically recommended unless specified for specific clinical indications.

This focus on the 1 and 5-minute marks ensures that any potential issues are identified early, allowing for timely interventions if necessary.