Final answer:
The Apgar scoring system is used to evaluate the health and well-being of newborn babies. Each of the five criteria is assigned a score of 0, 1, or 2, and the scores are added together to get the total Apgar score. A score of 7 or above is considered normal.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Apgar scoring system is used to evaluate the health and well-being of newborn babies. It consists of five criteria: appearance (skin color), heart rate, grimace (reflex), activity (muscle tone), and respiration. Each criterion is assigned a score of 0, 1, or 2.
Scoring is done at 1 and 5 minutes after birth, and the scores are added together to get the total Apgar score. The highest possible score is 10. A score of 7 or above is considered normal, while a score below 7 at the 5-minute mark may indicate the need for medical attention.