Description: On startle, a baby will rapidly throw its arms out away from the body, with the hands open, accompanied by a sharp intake of breath.This is followed by a relaxing of the posture, the arms being brought in across the chest with the out-breath.
The Moro reflex is essentially a reaction to threat and is the baby’s ‘alarm reflex’. Every time it is triggered, our ‘fight or flight’ response is activated, releasing adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol into our bloodstream and preparing the body to fight or run away.
The Moro reflex is multisensory and very sensitive. It can be triggered by many normal everyday occurrences ,including an unexpected or loud noise, a change in light levels, an unexpected or intense touch, pain, a sudden change in temperature and a sudden movement of the body or in the visual field.
If it remains active beyond our first year of life, it results in excess levels of stress hormones in our system and this can have far-reaching implications for our physical wellbeing affecting sleep, digestion and our immune system.
A retained Moro reflex can also affect our emotions and behaviour and result in:
Description: when a baby’s head is tilted forwards chin to chest, flexion of the arms and legs is produced. With the head tilted back below the level of the spine, extension of the limbs is noted.
The Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex is responsible for developing balance and coordination, and will stimulate the flexor/extensor muscles and later postural reflexes.
A retained TLR can result in:
Description: when a baby’s head is turned to the side, the jaw limbs extend, the occipital limbs flex.
The Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex stimulates muscle tone and balance mechanisms in utero, and is crucial to the birth process and neonate survival.
A retained ATNR can result in:
Description: when a baby’s back is stroked or stimulated to the side of its spine, the hip on that side will rotate toward the side of the stimulus.
The Spinal Galant Reflex is believed to assist with the birthing process, helping baby work its way down the birth canal.
A retained Spinal Galant reflex can result in:
Description: when a baby’s head is tilted forwards, its arms flex and its legs extend; when baby’s head is tilted backwards, its arms extend and its legs flex.
Not a primitive reflex but rather a transitional or infant reflex, the Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex is an extension or adaptation of the TLR and helps baby rise up on its hands and knees to prepare it for crawling.
A retained STNR can result in:
The Fear Paralysis Reflex is a withdrawal reflex rather than a primitive reflex and is the embryo’s first response to stress. It emerges very early in pregnancy (between 5-7 weeks) and should inhibit (disappear) with the emergence of the Moro reflex around 9 – 12 weeks after conception.
Description: the embryo responds to stress and stimulation by withdrawing and ‘freezing’.
A retained FPR can result in: