What does the Apgar score assess?

The Apgar score is a quick assessment performed on a newborn at 1 and 5 minutes after birth to evaluate the infant's overall health and well-being. This score assesses five criteria: heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, reflex response, and skin color. Each of these criteria is scored from 0 to 2, with a maximum total score of 10. A higher Apgar score indicates a better physiological status of the newborn at these critical moments immediately after birth. This tool is essential for identifying infants who may need immediate medical support or intervention, making it a key element in neonatal care.

The other options, such as assessing the mother’s recovery, evaluating feeding habits, or measuring the effectiveness of breastfeeding, do not relate to the primary function of the Apgar score. These aspects pertain to different areas of postnatal care and assessment that do not focus specifically on the immediate health of the newborn after delivery. Therefore, the correct answer directly aligns with the purpose of the Apgar assessment in monitoring newborns at critical transitional moments post-birth.