Apgar Scores
Apgar scores (named for Dr. Virginia Apgar, who invented them) are a set of numbers that are assigned upon examination of a newborn at the first and fifth minutes of life. Based on brief tests for heart rate, breathing, muscle tone, reflex response, and skin color, these numbers are not meant to indicate how healthy a newborn is. On the contrary, they help doctors decide what type of intervention is needed in case of a complication at delivery. By the time you’re cozy in your room with Lucy, these scores are meaningless, because she’s already been deemed healthy.