Apgar Score and Child Wellness in New York City

When a baby is born, the number one concern of the parent(s) is how healthy the child is. The moment the child is born in the hospital setting, many reflex tests and assessments are performed to check if there was anything wrong with the delivery. Physical features of the baby that could have been harmed during the birthing process are evaluated.

One way that a newborn can be assessed is via the APGAR assessment. In 1952, Dr. Virginia Apgar created this test. The APGAR score is a test given to newborn babies which looks at a variety of different factors such as breathing rate, heart rate, muscle tone, skin color, reflexes, and other features. APGAR stands for Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration. The test is given literally minutes after birth. It is conducted twice, the first time is one minute after birth, the next is five minutes after birth. The reason why it is performed twice is because the first time shows how well the baby handled the process, and the second test is done to show the stability of the baby and how that baby is responding to its new environment. The APGAR score is affected by many birth factors, including gestational age, delivery methods, such as natural birth or C-Section, medication administered to the mother pre-delivery, any complications and other factors.

The APGAR score has a scale of 0-2 for each part of the assessment, with 0 being the worst score and 2 being optimal. At the end when the five major test scores are added, the score will be out of 10. If the baby has a score of 7 or above, then it is in good health and considered Within Normal Limits. However, some babies do have low scores, and can be a result of how the baby was born. For example for a premature baby or a C-section the acceptable low scores range from 4-6, while a score of 0-3 usually may require a machine to help assist the infant.

The way these tests are performed matters, starting with breathing rate. The breathing rate is arguably the most important, as it shows if the baby is alive or not. If the baby is not breathing, the score is zero. If the baby is slowly breathing or showing signs of irregularity, then a 1 is given. Lastly, if the baby is breathing well, then a 2 is given. Next, the heart rate is evaluated using a stethoscope. If the heartbeat is nonexistent, then a 0 is given. If the heartbeat is less than 100 beats per minute, then a 1 is given, and if the heartbeat is over 100 beats per minute, then a 2 is assigned. The reason why the baby would have a high heart rate is due to the stressful process the baby just experienced. After the heart, muscle tone is determined. If the muscle is floppy, then a 0 is given. If the baby demonstrates some tone, then a 1 is given, and if the baby is undergoing activity and moving around, a 2 is given. After that, reflexes are tested. If the infant has no reaction when a stimulant such as a pinch is given, then a 0 is given. If the baby responds a little, a 1 is given, and if the baby grimaces and cries or shows another reaction, a score of 2 is given. Lastly, skin is visually examined and if the skin color is blue, then a score of 0 is given, if the body is pink and the feet are blue, then a score of 1 is given, and if the entire body is pink, a score of 2 is given.

The APGAR score has a lot of significance, and there are a few important things to note about it. The first thing is that the test is deemed to analyze current factors of the infant, and not long term health. This score is simply used in order to get an immediate picture and to know if the infant needs additional intervention or not. Furthermore, another important fact to note is that if the score given after the first minute does not change or gets worse for the five minute test, the medical staff will offer immediate care.

This test is important because it provides a quick way of analyzing the immediate physical state of the baby.

However, it is not an indication of future yet unknown and undetected health or physical issues or complications the baby may have.

For example, some issues are recognized later by pediatricians such as tongue-tie, plagiocephaly, torticollis, scoliosis, colic, reflux and a myriad of other health issues the baby may have that are not assessed by the APGAR test.

Most importantly the baby’s current state of his/her craniosacral mechanism is not examined, and here is where ALL the issues stem from.

About Dr. Kaminsky & Craniosacral Therapy

Dr. Kaminsky earned his Chiropractic degree in the year 2000 and is licensed to practice in NY. He has since completed close to three thousand hours of continuing education seminars in various healthcare fields.

Since 2015, he is implementing primarily the hands-on techniques of Craniosacral Therapy (CST), a gentle, non-invasive, laying of the hands that brings about reversal and restoration.

The Craniosacral Mechanism is the driver of moving fluid in the body and head called cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF), which is produced by the Choroid Plexus of the brain and encapsulated within the head and spine.

The craniosacral system is the hydraulic mechanism of a human being and is a component of the Central Nervous System (CNS) and (ANS) Autonomic Nervous system.

There is a function inside of your brain that autonomically generates rhythmic impulses that function to pump CSF throughout your body via the craniosacral pathways, regulating your central and peripheral nerves, nervous system and organ systems, musculoskeletal system, etc.

This moving fluid is palpable to a trained craniosacral therapist, like the heart rate, pulse rhythm, breath, that can all be seen, heard or felt, so too can the Cranial Sacral Rhythm (CSR) be palpated and diagnosed for its health.

By placing his or her hands on your body, including your head and sacrum, the therapist can detect, feel and evaluate the SQAR (symmetry, quality, amplitude, rate) of this fluid rhythm.

The health of your body and mind are dependent on the vitality of this fluid. Compromises of your CSR’s rhythmic impulse correlates to CSF flow restrictions in the system which, when the fluid isn’t flowing optimally, your bodily rejuvenation and recovery is affected.

With anatomically correct hand placement on different parts the body during a session, through gentle manipulation and mobilization the therapist guides and facilitates a positive change in that region of the body which brings forth a correction. A myofascial release in a sense.

A craniosacral therapist stimulates and helps your rhythm refocus, allowing for improvement of musculoskeletal tightness and spasms, neurological issues, organ function, many common conditions, pain, and the mind-body re-connect.

Through a practitioners properly focused and individually attuned touch, your body is facilitated to release channels of fluid stagnation and flow restriction, which ultimately breakthrough, overcome and improve your rhythmic fluid and your potential for health improvement.

The existence of the Craniosacral mechanism was first discovered by Osteopath Dr. William Sutherland in the early 1900’s, who called it Cranial Osteopathy. And many years later, renamed to Craniosacral Therapy by Osteopath, Dr. John Upledger.

Dr. Alex Kaminsky is an advanced and certified Craniosacral Therapist, having studied advanced levels including SER, Brain and Pediatric courses. He has built a significant skill-set with many years of experience treating adults, children and babies. To learn more, visit the other pages on this website. Call to schedule your appointment with Dr. Kaminsky.