LilSugar

Babies' Apgar Scores May Be Tied to Future Educational Success

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 10:30:17 PDT

Did your tot cram for her first exam? You might hope so! Immediately after birth most babies undergo the Apgar test with doctors and nurses observing the lil one's appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, and respiration. They're graded on a one-to-10 scale with babies landing in the eight and above range deemed healthy tots. But what happens to those tots that score below the healthy range?

While monitoring and light therapy may be used on infants in the hospital, a new study finds that the lower scores stick with kids later in life. According to a new Swedish study, kids who had Apgar scores of seven or below "had roughly double the odds of attending a special school because of cognitive deficits or other difficulties" later in life. The scientists behind the study think that the reasons for the low score could impact future brain activity. Do you put any weight behind the study?

Do You Know What Your Child Scored on the APGAR test?

babysugar — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 10:00:48 PDT

It's a boy! It's a girl! It's...going off for its APGAR test! So many new mothers are in a state of bliss upon welcoming their child into the world that when it comes time for the newborn to undergo his APGAR (Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration) test, she hardly wants to let him go. Truth be told, it all happens within the babe's first five minutes of life so many parents don't even notice his quick removal for a few fleeting moments. As a mother of two children, one might think I could recall at least one of my baby's test results... but I don't. Do you know what your babe scored on his APGAR test?

How Much Do You Know About the APGAR Exam?

LilSugar — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:00:58 PDT

Moms chat about their newborn's APGAR scores, but do they know how the numbers add up? Before your child is whisked away, understand what the test is for. Take this quiz and test your knowledge.
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