The Newborn Baby
	Apgar Scoring
	The Newborn's Reflexes
	The Newborn's Appearance
	Birthweight
	Birthmarks and Common Skin Conditions
	Bath-time for Beginners

Apgar Scoring

Following the birth, all babies are assessed and scored through an examination which is known as the Apgar score. The condition of the following will be thoroughly checked, with each of the five areas being alotted up to 2 points. A baby scoring 7 or more points is considered to be making satisfactory progress; a baby scoring less than 4 points will need to be resuscitated, and those in between will be very carefully monitored.


A ppearance
P ulse
G rimace
A ctivity
R espiration

Skin Colour
Your new-born baby's skin tone, could come as a tremendous shock, if you were expecting her to be a rosy pink; in fact she is more likely to be a rather dull blueish grey. But as the oxygenated air reaches every part of her body she will gradually become pinker. Good circulation, is often one of the best indications of a healthy baby, and this will score her 2 points on the test.

Heart Rate
A strong, regular heartbeat of over 100 beats per minute, helps ensure an adequate circulation of oxygen, and will score 2 points on the Apgar test. 1 point is given if it is below 100 beats a minute.

Reflex Response
Your baby will score 1 point if she grimaces while her nose is being suctioned to clear it of mucus, and 2 points if she coughs, sneezes or cries.

Muscle Tone
The more vigorous and energetic your baby is after birth, the better his general condition, this will score him 2 points, and 1 point if his movements are infrequent.

Respiration
Sometimes a baby will need a little help in starting to breathe easily, and this involves extracting any mucus that may be present in your baby's airways, by means of a catheter. If your baby's breathing is slow and irregular, 1 point will be given. But it normally takes about 20 seconds for your baby to take his first breath, this being confirmed by the expansion and contraction of his rib cage, and his first cry will follow soon afterwards, scoring 2 points.
 

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