Final answer:
The fetal screen method, or Apgar score, assesses five criteria: skin color, heart rate, reflex, muscle tone, and respiration. The baby is scored on these criteria at 1 and 5 minutes after birth, with higher scores indicating better transition from the womb.
Step-by-step explanation:
What is counted in the fetal screen method? The fetal screen method, also often referred to as the Apgar score, includes the assessment of five criteria: skin color, heart rate, reflex, muscle tone, and respiration. Each of these criteria is evaluated and assigned a score of 0, 1, or 2. These scores are taken twice, once at 1 minute after birth and again at 5 minutes after birth. All five scores from each assessment are added together, with the total score out of a possible 10 indicating the newborn's overall health and readiness to transition from the womb. A higher cumulative score indicates a baby has transitioned well, while lower scores may suggest the baby is in distress and may require additional medical attention.