When your new baby comes into the world, the urge to quickly hold him (or her) and establish a connection is natural. However, you may have to wait a few minutes while doctors give your newborn a quick bath, take their vitals, and establish an APGAR score. If you are unfamiliar with such a score and what it means regarding the health of your new baby, this post will provide some helpful background.
Essentially, an APGAR score is an assessment to measure a baby’s overall health directly after birth. It measures five indicators, including:
Appearance/skin color – Does the baby’s skin look, feel healthy