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The Moro reflex – otherwise known as the embrace reflex – is the physiological response of an infant to surprise by a sudden, strong stimulus. Considering how much the environment in the mother’s womb differs from the environment in which a baby has to find himself after birth, natural things for adults, ones that even older children should not pay attention to, can be a strong stimulus.
It is an inborn, unconditional (i.e. independent of the child’s consciousness and will) reflex, closely related to the maturation of the central nervous system, i.e. the further development of the nervous system. It is caused by stimuli from the environment: thermal, auditory and light.
It manifests itself in utero. It is classified as an evolutionary reflex, specifically its remnants, i.e. atavistic reflexes.
It is based on the fact that the child makes a sudden movement – spreads the hands apart and throws them in front of him, spreading his fingers wide apart. He is breathing fast and often screams or cries. Immediately after that, the toddler clenches his hands into fists and presses them against himself, hugging himself as if he wanted to protect himself in this way.
If you want to find out which diseases most often premature babies suffer from, check: The most common diseases of premature babies – respiratory distress syndrome, delayed development, enteritis
The Moro reflex begins to form in a child during his fetal life, and more precisely between the 9th and 12th week of pregnancy. This reflex develops throughout pregnancy. During the ultrasound examination in the 28th week of pregnancy, the Moro reflex is already clearly visible.
The Moro reflex also fulfills its specific role. Well, during childbirth, the environment in which the baby resides completely changes. From the mother’s warm, cozy and safe belly, the baby finds a world that he does not know and is completely alien to him. In addition, when the baby squeezes through the birth canal, his chest is compressed, which allows the fluid in the lungs to be removed. This helps to prepare your baby to breathe independently. When the pressure stops and air is pushed into the baby’s lungs, the Moro reflex makes it much easier to inhale.
In addition, the Moro reflex allows the baby to straighten the body after 9 months of being in the embryonic position in the mother’s belly. This reflex also prepares the baby to keep the head sitting and then sit down.
More information about the developmental stages of the fetus can be found here: Fetal development stages – first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy
The Moro reflex is an innate reaction. It is the result of exposure to an unexpected stimulus for the child, acting in particular on:
- auditory sense, that is, too loud noise;
- tactile sense, i.e. an unexpected increase or decrease in temperature;
- visual sense, i.e. a sharp change in the direction from which the light falls or the change in the intensity of lighting;
- motor sense, i.e. when someone around the child moved too quickly or suddenly;
- vestibular, i.e. as a result of a sudden change in the position of the infant’s head.
It is possible that the sleeping baby will wake up by the Moro reflex – this means that he has been sleeping in an uncomfortable position and needs a more comfortable, less stressful position.
The child’s reaction to the Moro reflex
The Moro reflex causes a number of reactions in the child, which can be described as follows:
- immediate and sudden agitation;
- quick inhalations, sudden lack of reaction and movement, exhale and scream very often;
- fight-or-flight activity, which causes the release of adrenaline and cortisol, hyperventilation, increased heart rate, increase in blood pressure, reddening of the skin;
- burst of crying.
What symptoms should your child worry about? Check it out: Disturbing symptoms in children – it could mean an illness!
The phases of the Moro reflex
The Moro reflex is triggered by a sharp change in the position of the baby’s head, most often by tilting the head by 30 degrees. Two phases can be observed in the Moro reflex:
- the first phase of the Moro reflex – in this phase, the baby first straightens his arms and fingers, takes a deep breath, and stops in this position. This is the child’s confusing phase as his body has become unstable. In the first phase, the arms and legs are straightened and the palaces are open.
- the second phase of the Moro reflex – in this phase, the child first bends his limbs, clenches his fingers into fists and exhales. The movement of the hands and fingers resembles an embrace gesture. In the second phase, the arms and legs are in the embracing position, the fingers make a fist, and finally the baby starts crying.
How does a child’s sense of sight develop? Check: When does a newborn baby begin to see? Vision development in a child
Moro reflex during feeding
The Moro reflex may occur during feeding. This happens when the mother makes a movement that is too sudden for the baby or scares her by something in the environment (such as a sound in the apartment, lights on or off, another household member). This is a natural reaction. It is important to give your child peace of mind, let him feel safe, and soothe him each time a reflex occurs. It may help to slow down your movements or hug him carefully. If you are breastfeeding while holding your baby in your arms, you may be doing it too lightly – it is better to hold the baby more securely so that it does not have to be afraid of falling.
What should you know about feeding your baby? Read: How much should a newborn eat? How often do you feed your baby?
Moro reflex and epilepsy
The characteristics of the Moro reflex may raise concerns about whether the child has symptoms of epilepsy. Both ailments cause the body to shudder and become tense.
Careful observation of the baby is essential for the distinction. The Moro reflex is a single response to a surprising stimulus. Epilepsy, on the other hand, is most often manifested by a series of short-circuits that last shorter (1-2 seconds), but are repeated several times in the form of cycles. The whole process may take up to several minutes. The difference in the position of the child shaken by the “shiver” is also important. In an epileptic attack, the child actually throws out the arms (as is the case with the Moro reflex), but at the same time pulls the knees of the bent legs up towards them. The body then bends forward. The contractions may be limited to one part of the body, but this is less common. Another feature that distinguishes epilepsy from Moro is that epilepsy very rarely manifests itself while the child is asleep. Usually, an attack does not occur until the baby is awake.
Do you want to know how long your newborn should sleep? Read: How much does a newborn sleep? How to deal with disturbed sleep?
The Moro reflex begins to appear around the ninth week of pregnancy. It should gradually fade away by the fourth month of life. After this time, it should turn into a shudder, and later (in the fifth or sixth month), disappear completely.
If this is not the case, it may mean that the environment is unfavorable for the child, that is, it causes him stress related to the excessive reflex to run away. This causes the infant to develop with too much tension. In order to extinguish the Moro reflex, it is worth changing the conditions in which the child is staying – first of all, extinguish too much light and take care of smaller temperature fluctuations, if there are any.
What is worth remembering when caring for a newborn? Check: The most important rules in the care of a newborn baby
Moro’s reflex persisted
Persistent Moro reflex may indicate serious neurological disorders. It is worth going to a pediatrician or a child neurologist. Children with a persistent Moro reflex are very often timid and withdrawn, and have difficulty making contacts. It also happens that children with persistent Moro reflexes are over-aroused, active and show the need to dominate. The symmetry of the Moro reflex is also important. If the infant is throwing out one hand or does it unevenly, it could be a sign of abnormalities in the peripheral neurons, brachial plexus, or collarbone injury. The unilateral Moro reflex is therefore one of the symptoms that should attract parents’ attention and speed up a visit to the doctor.
It is very rare that in some children the Moro reflex is initially absent or weak enough to be difficult to observe. This usually happens with premature babies. This is not cause for concern.
However, in the case of full-term babies, the lack of the Moro reflex may be associated with damage to motor neurons or other damage to the brain and central nervous system.
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