The Apgar score (Appendix B) is assigned at 1, 5, and, occasionally, 10–20 minutes after delivery. It gives a fairly objective retrospective idea of how much resuscitation a term infant required at birth and the infant's response to resuscitative efforts. It is, however, not useful during resuscitation. During resuscitation, simultaneous assessment of respiratory activity and heart rate provides the quickest and most accurate evaluation of the need for continuing resuscitation.