Saving New Born Babies Through Dr. Virginia Apgar’s Score by Dr. Madeline Frank

What is the most dangerous time of life? The answer to that question is birth! Recently an Argentinian newspaper reported a new born baby was pronounced dead by 5 medical professionals. The parents went to the morgue 12 hours later to take a last picture of their baby daughter. They opened the coffin and heard their baby crying. No parent should ever have this happen to their baby. This is a parent’s worst nightmare. Her parents named her “Luz Milagros” meaning “Miracle Light”. The medical staff should have followed Dr. Virginia Apgar’s 5 point Score to assess the new born baby in Argentina. Dr. Virginia Apgar knew from her research that birth is most dangerous time of life. Her Apgar Score of 1952 quickly assesses the overall health of new borne babies saving the lives of millions of new born babies each year. In 1933 Virginia Apgar became "one of Columbia University's first female M.D.'s" she specialized in the male-dominated area of medicine surgery. Dr. Apgar said, “Even women won’t go to a woman surgeon.” She decided to switch her focus to the new field of anesthesiology. In 1949 she became the first full professor of anesthesiology at Columbia. One day a medical student of Dr. Apgar asked her "about the need to evaluate newborn babies." Dr. Apgar said, "That's easy, you'd do it like this." She immediately “grabbed the nearest piece of paper, jotted down the 5 points of her Apgar Score and then rushed off to O.B Obstetrics & Gynecology to try it out." What are Dr. Virginia Apgar's 5 point Score for assessing the health of new born babies? 1) Appearance, skin color 2) Pulse, heart rate 3) Grimace, reflex 4) Activity, muscle tone 5) Respiration, breathing Dr. Apgar's name is the Pneumonic. As a physician she assisted in over 17,000 births. Dr. Virginia Apgar knew from her research that birth is most dangerous time of life. Her Apgar Score quickly assesses the overall health of new borne babies saving the lives of millions of new born babies each year. When Dr. Apgar was alerted to a problem she immediately thought of how to solve it. Dr. Apgar said, “Nobody, but nobody is going to stop breathing on me.” She also said, “Do what is right, and do it now.” Medical professionals around the world should remember to use Dr. Apgar’s Score to assess the health of their new born babies to prevent medical errors. Madeline Frank, Ph.D. business owner, teacher, researcher, speaker and concert artist. She writes a monthly newsletter "Madeline's Monthly Article & Musical Tips" and a monthly radio show "Madeline's One Minute Musical Radio Show". http://www.madelinefrankviola.com/