Final answer:
To determine if a newborn needs resuscitation, one should assess tone, respiratory effort, and heart rate. These are components of the Apgar score, which is taken at 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth. The most critical Apgar criteria are heart rate and respiration, which significantly influence the decision to perform resuscitation.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine if a newborn needs resuscitation, you should assess tone, respiratory effort, and heart rate. The assessment tool used for this purpose is the Apgar score, which is a quick, easy, and painless method to evaluate the immediate health of a newborn. The Apgar score includes five criteria: skin color, heart rate, reflexes, muscle tone, and respiration. Each criterion is assigned a score of 0, 1, or 2.
Apgar scores are taken at 1 minute after birth and again at 5 minutes later. The scores are added together, with a maximum score of 10. Higher scores generally indicate that the baby is doing well, while lower scores suggest the infant may be in distress and require medical attention or resuscitation. Specifically, heart rate and respiration are the most critical measurements in this scoring system. A total Apgar score below 7 at the 5-minute mark often signifies the need for medical assistance, and a score below 5 is indicative of an emergency situation.
The mnemonic APGAR aids in remembering the criteria: Appearance (skin color), Pulse (heart rate), Grimace (reflex), Activity (muscle tone), and Respiration. A stethoscope is typically the only instrument required for measuring the heart rate during an Apgar test.
When assessing individual criteria such as skin color and reflexes, specific observations are made. For example, if the baby's skin is blue at the extremities but the body is pink, and the baby cries on stimulation or has a strong cry, these observations contribute to determining the Apgar score.