Critical first minutes determine a newborn’s health using the Apgar score

A newborn’s condition is assessed within minutes of birth using the Apgar score, a system introduced in 1952 that evaluates heart rate, breathing, muscle tone, reflexes, and skin colour, reports Danish broadcaster DR.

The method remains a standard tool at hospitals such as Copenhagen’s Rigshospitalet, where medical staff quickly determine whether a newborn requires immediate intervention. Each factor is scored on a scale, with the total providing a snapshot of the infant’s health.

The assessment is featured in DR’s documentary series Med livet i hænderne (With Life in Their Hands), which follows the high-stakes work of maternity ward teams.