APGAR Scores & Birth Trauma

After a baby is born, one of the first things that will happen is that its Apgar scores will be checked. Typically, this is done one minute and five minutes after birth, but in some cases, may also be done ten minutes after birth. Basically, these tests are done to look for signs that the baby may be having respiratory or heart issues and determine whether or not the baby needs immediate medical assistance. The one-minute test is done to understand how well the baby handled the birthing process and the five-minute test reflects how well it is doing outside of its mother’s body. 

Apgar stands for Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiration. The test is designed to examine the baby’s skin color, heart rate, reflexes, respiration rate, and muscle tone. Apgar scores range from 0 to 10, with a maximum of two points possible for each category being tested. 

An Apgar score in the 7-9 range is considered normal and there’s no need to worry if a baby doesn’t get a score of 10. It’s actually pretty rare for babies to get a score of 10 purely because of how common it is for babies to have some blue skin on their hands and feet so soon after birth. It’s also common for babies to have a low score in the one-minute test and get a normal score in the five-minute test. 

An Apgar score below 7 is a sign that the baby needs medical attention. If the baby has a score under 7 in the five-minute test, another test will likely be done a few minutes later after some actions have been taken. A score of 3 or below is considered low. 

Causes & Outcomes of Low Apgar Scores

Some of the most common reasons why a baby might have a low Apgar score include a baby being delivered by C-section, fluid in the baby’s airways, or a labor/delivery that experienced complications. 

It’s very important to understand that a low Apgar score doesn’t necessarily mean the baby will experience long-term health complications. However, it may potentially be a sign that the baby experienced a lack of oxygen during labor/delivery. Complications that affect the baby’s oxygen supply during delivery, particularly if that interruption lasts for a significant amount of time, can potentially have a wide range of health effects on the baby, such as HIE, cerebral palsy, and other brain injuries. 

Contact a Michigan Birth Trauma Lawyer

If you experienced complications during labor and delivery and your child had a loss of oxygen during this time, don’t hesitate to contact a birth trauma lawyer. If your child was injured as a result of that, it’s important to have someone on your side who knows the law and can help hold the right people accountable, so that your child can get all the care they need – both today and in the future. The sad reality is that birth trauma cases very often could have been prevented. At Scott Goodwin Law, we’re experienced in helping the victims of birth trauma here in the state of Michigan. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.