After nine months in the warmth, serenity and safety of the womb, the process of labor and birth is pretty dramatic for a baby. Apgar scores help measure how well your baby has weathered this stress.
At one minute and again at five minutes after your baby's birth, he or she will be given a score of 0, 1 or 2 for each of these five measures of condition: breathing, skin color, reflexes, heart rate and muscle tone. Added together, these five condition scores make up your baby's Apgar score. 
The highest possible Apgar score is 10. According to the <a href="[BASEDOMAIN]/healthinfo/bouncelink.aspx?shortcut=modimes" target="_blank">March of Dimes</a>, babies who receive a score of 7 or higher probably are in good condition. Those with lower scores may need extra watching or special care. 
But a low score may not be a reason to worry, according to the <a href="[BASEDOMAIN]/healthinfo/bouncelink.aspx?shortcut=acog" target="_blank">American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists</a>. It doesn't reflect your baby's health before birth or measure long-term potential. In fact, most babies with lower initial scores turn out to be fine. 
Reviewed 10/30/2023

Understanding Apgar scores

Within minutes of birth, your baby will receive his or her first checkup.