Final answer:
FHR characteristics assessed by IA can include monitoring the baby's heart rate, a critical component of the Apgar score. The score assesses five criteria like heart rate, skin color, reflexes, muscle tone, and respiration, immediately after birth, providing quick feedback on the newborn's health.
Step-by-step explanation:
Fetal heart rate (FHR) characteristics that can be assessed by intermittent auscultation (IA) involve monitoring the baby's heart rate during labor. The five criteria evaluated in the Apgar score include skin color, heart rate, reflex, muscle tone, and respiration. IA specifically helps in assessing the baby's heart rate as one of the core components of the Apgar test. The heart rate is one of the five traits checked to calculate the Apgar score and can be assessed with tools like a stethoscope, as indicated in the provided Figure 23.5.3.
The Apgar score is assigned at 1 minute after birth and again at 5 minutes after birth. Each criterion is scored from 0 to 2, and these scores are then summed to reach a total score out of a possible 10. High scores suggest that the baby has transitioned from the womb effectively, while lower scores may signal distress. This provides immediate feedback on the newborn's health and helps determine if further medical intervention is needed. The Apgar test is a quick assessment tool used worldwide to evaluate a newborn's condition immediately after birth.