Apgar score is the name given to the test given to the newborn baby very shortly after childbirth. The test is done either in the delivery room or in an adjacent room to find out the physical condition of the baby. The first baby test was developed by Virginia Apgar, an anesthesiologist in 1950 and hence the name.
A stands for Appearance, P stands for pulse, G stands for grimace, A stands for activity and R for respiration. These are vital signs to show that the newborn is hale and healthy. For some babies the test is repeated twice if the baby’s condition while testing for first time is poor. The rating is given for each factor and the baby will get 2 if it is best at one particular factor.