APGAR in the delivery room
Dr. Virginia Apgar designed this score in 1952 as a quick standardised snapshot of a newborn's condition. It scores Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiration on a 0-2 scale each, giving a total of 0-10.
One important thing: APGAR scoring doesn't drive resuscitation decisions in real time. NRP resuscitation starts before the 1-minute score is even complete. The score documents clinical status retrospectively and guides ongoing assessment — it doesn't replace clinical judgement at the bedside.
Score interpretation
| Score | Classification | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 7-10 | Normal | Routine care. Dry, warm, stimulate. |
| 4-6 | Moderate depression | Supplemental O₂, stimulation, consider PPV. |
| 0-3 | Severe depression | Immediate resuscitation. PPV, cardiac compression if HR <60. |
Related tools
For pregnancy due date and gestational age, see Due Date Calculator. For pediatric weight-based drug dosing in neonates, see Pediatric Dose Calculator. For neonatal fluid requirements, see Pediatric Fluid Requirement. For gestational weight gain, see Gestational Weight Gain.