Whether your newborn baby is born in a hospital, birthing center, or at home, the doctor or midwife will see to it that he is given uninterrupted expert attention until breathing is well established. Any major problems should be identified within a matter of minutes, so that if special care is required it will begin at the earliest possible moment.
Immediately after delivery, and then again five minutes later, the doctor or midwife will test your baby against the Apgar scale, a series of short tests to determine his general physical well-being. Devised by the late Dr. Virginia Apgar, a renowned anesthesiologist, they are designed to detect whether your baby is in need of immediate special attention. The doctor will then examine your baby to assess his general condition.
