Normal newborns have some innate reflexes as soon as they are born. These reflexes can reflect whether your baby’s body is healthy and whether the nervous system functions normally.
Some of the early anomalies can also be seen in the changes in these reflections. If you press your thumb on both sides of the palm of the newborn at the same time, he will open his mouth, bow his head forward and close his eyes. This kind of postnatal reflex is called primordial reflex (also known as neonatal temporary reflex). This kind of reflex is the unique ability of the newborn. With the increase of age, the central nervous system develops gradually, and these reflexes will gradually weaken and disappear.
If most of the reflexes still exist 3-4 months after birth, it indicates brain lesions. Some reflexes, such as neck limb reflex, will disappear after 6 months. In addition to the above-mentioned reflex, this kind of reflex also includes foraging reflex, sucking reflex, embracing reflex, grasping reflex and automatic step reflex.
When you touch a newborn’s cheek with your fingers, he will turn to the stroked side and open his mouth. One of the most important instincts of the newborn is “ready to eat”, and the foraging (or searching) reflex is to make it easy to get food.
In the quiet awakening state of the newborn, the mother holds the newborn in her arms, making the newborn touch the mother’s nipple with his left cheek. This reflex will cause the baby to turn his head to the left, open his mouth, and then find the nipple and start sucking.
When a newborn suddenly changes his posture, or when he hears a loud voice, he will (1) stretch out his arms and fingers; (2) bend his upper limbs and retract them to embrace; (3) cry sometimes.
The normal newborns who are quiet and awake are easy to cause grasping reflex. You can put your two index fingers or pinkies into the palm of the hand from the side of the newborn’s two hands respectively, and press the palm gently. He will tightly grasp your fingers to cause grasping reflex.
Hyperreflexia indicates bilateral brain diseases, and disappearance or weakening of the neonatal period indicates that the central nervous system of the newborn is in a state of inhibition.
Under normal circumstances, it disappears in two months. Some scholars believe that grasping reflex represents an evolutionary adaptation. Newborns are using this ability to try to “protect” themselves.
Automatic Step Reflex
In some cases, your baby can even support his own weight and sit up with help. In addition, for newborns with upright ability, when their feet touch the desktop to stand upright, they will have automatic step action. Generally, the first step on the left foot, then on the right foot. Some even walk more than 10 steps, which makes their parents marvel.
There are some reflexes shared by newborns and adults: the heart rate increases when emotional changes occur; when you use feathers to stimulate their nose, they will sneeze; when food enters the trachea by mistake, they will cough; when they eat more, the number and quantity of stool will increase due to the hyperactivity of intestinal peristalsis.