What is the purpose of the Apgar score?

The Apgar score is specifically designed to evaluate the health of a newborn immediately after birth. This scoring system assesses five criteria: appearance (skin color), pulse (heart rate), grimace response (reflexes), activity (muscle tone), and respiration (breathing effort). Each item is scored from 0 to 2, with a maximum possible score of 10.

This rapid assessment allows healthcare providers to identify newborns who may require immediate medical attention. A higher Apgar score typically indicates better overall health, while lower scores may signal the need for interventions to support the infant's breathing, circulation, and overall stability.

The other options relate to different aspects of maternal and fetal health but do not pertain to the specific purpose of the Apgar score, which is focused solely on the immediate postnatal evaluation of the infant.