Apgar Test...

[PrincessXanthe]

I have been wondering...

Is there any use doing this test after a few hours? I want an hour or two of uninterrupted time with my DD after her birth, without the distraction of bathing or tests etc. Do I need an apgar test twice? Can I tell them not to bother if she appears to be breathing and moving fine???

[LSK]

with my son they did it without me even knowing- i'm pretty sure it's really fast and the MW and ob's quickly do it. it's not like a test where the hold your baby etc. i was holding mine form the minute he came out and they did it twice 1 min and 5 min. It's not somthing i even noticed them doing. I'm sure you wont either.
they normally dont bath until a couple of hours anyway to alllow for you to bond.

hope some one else can shed some light for you.

[PrincessXanthe]

Thanks!

I guess I just really want that time with my bub and for nothing to come between us in those first few hours. I just want to sit there with her, skin to skin, cuddle and breastfeed.

Could anything happen following labour that will prevent this???

Can I ask not to be given the drug to speed up delivery of the placenta so that we have more time to hug, or is that dangerous??? (maybe this needs a new thread)

[LSK]

ummm.. for me they gave me the injection whislt i still holding bubs really quick. i was stiched up and my dh was holding bub.

i would ask if you dont want the drug though

HTH

[feeb]

an apgar score does not need the baby to be touched by mw or opb for a normal term healthy newborn.

mw observes the baby for colour, tone, repiratory effort, heart rate, reflexes and generally babies get an 8 or 9, any less baby may need some attention.

You can opt to have a physiological 3rd stage and not have any drugs to complete 3 rd stage.

[PrincessXanthe]

Thanks everyone!

[LSK]

seee........... i knew someone would be able to word it better than me!! WTG feeb!!

[LoriRae]

Oscar- Just make sure you tell the mw beforehand that you want that time with bubs uninterrupted. I didn't, and when it was all happening I just didn't think. Bubs was taken, weighed, cleaned and wrapped up like a little burrito before I knew it.

[Liviam]

Oscaroscar you won't even notice the midwife doing the apgar scores on your baby girl. The apgar score is for a score out of ten which lets all medical/midwifery/MCHN the condition that your baby was when she was born. Like it's been mentioned it is for respiratory rate, heart rate, reflexes, colour and muscle tone. Each one of these catergories is scored between 0 -2 for certain parameters. It is all done by visual observation and won't involve bubby being removed from your chest unless she is in need of medical support for her breathing or heart rate.

[Inertia]

Originally Posted by oscaroscar

Can I ask not to be given the drug to speed up delivery of the placenta so that we have more time to hug, or is that dangerous??? (maybe this needs a new thread)

Chances are that you will notice the needle as much as the apgar testing. They get it in when they put bub on your chest so that you don't notice it.

You will get some time to cuddle skin to skin, but I am not sure they will let it go for hours, simply because the rooms are cold and they need to keep baby warm. I am sure though that if you speak with your MW prior to delivery she can help organise something for you that will hopefully not interfere too much with what they have to do for your bubs wellbeing.

With DS2 I only got to hold him for 5 minutes before his second apgar revealed he was experiencing difficulties breathing. I didn't get to hold him again for 5 days. It wasnt until then that I got to nurse him. If they need to step in, then rest assured they are only doing what is best for your baby.