Reflex Moro in newborns

For the assessment of the health of the newborn infant, unconditioned reflexes are of great importance. By their manifestation or absence, it is possible to judge whether everything is in order with the crumb and whether the little one needs additional examination and treatment. One of the important congenital reflexes of a newly born child and a rising infant is the Moro reflex.

The Moro reflex is one of the unconditioned reflexes that appear immediately after birth (you can see it when the obstetrician treats the crumbs). He was first described by the German pediatrician Moreau in 1918, in whose honor automatism was named. It is important to understand that this is not a pathological reflex, but an absolutely normal reaction of a healthy newborn.

More information about the reflexes of the newborn can be found in the following video.

To invoke the Moro reflex, you can:

• Suddenly hit with two hands on the surface in 15-20 centimeters from the head, lying on her child (on both sides).
• Suddenly, unbend the legs of the baby lying on the back or lift the unbent legs of the crumbs up with the pelvis.
• Take the baby in your arms and sharply lower it in your arms 20-30 cm down, and then return it to its original height.
• Slap your hands close to the reclining child.

The reaction to such techniques is divided into two phases:

1. In the first phase, the baby pulls his shoulders and arms to the sides, opening the fists (fingers spread).
2. In the second phase, the crumbs of the crumbs return to the position in which they remained before the impact (the baby seems to be holding something or hugging someone).

How to assess the reflex and why the baby should be swaddled, see the next video.

Because of such manifestations, this reflex is also called the startle reflex. He often appears during sleep if the baby is frightened by any noise, for example, a pet or the sound of a car from an open window. It can also occur during sudden movements of an adult whose baby is in his arms. It does not harm the toddler, but can cause prolonged crying.

• The reflex is often checked in the morning, approximately 2 hours after feeding.
• The result is determined by the symmetry and severity of the reflex. It may be bright, normal, weak or absent.
• Also estimate the speed of manifestation, according to which the reflex can appear quickly or delay.
• Verification is performed over time.
• In assessing the result, it is important to take into account the health of the baby and the excitability of his nervous system, and whether the baby is full and not tired.

To eliminate the frequent occurrence of the reflex, it is advised:

• Do not make sharp gestures near the baby or when the crumb is in your hands.
• Try to limit the level of noise affecting the peanut.
• To talk with the baby in a gentle and calm voice.

• The absence of a reflex immediately after childbirth or its decline may indicate intracranial injury.
• Asymmetric manifestation of the reflex is characteristic of hemiparesis.
• If the baby only removes his hands a little, they are talking about an incomplete reflex, which occurs in severe hypertension.
• In infants with a CNS lesion, the frequency of the Moro reflex appearance is increased both with different manipulations and spontaneously.
• If hypoxia acted on the baby during labor, the reflex may be weakened or manifest itself later.

Since this situation most often arises due to brain damage or conductive nerve paths, it is important to immediately assess the condition of the newborn and conduct the necessary examinations in order to identify problems with the nervous system in time. As a rule, the lack of a reflex after birth is immediately noted by the doctors and becomes the cause of a more thorough examination of the crumbs and testing of other reflexes.

If the reflex is manifested only on one side, then the doctor should examine the shoulder and collarbone of the newborn in order to rule out the situation of their damage during childbirth. If the mother found deviations in the manifestation of such a reflex after discharge from the hospital, she needs to tell her pediatrician about her doubts.