Settling Down With Your New Baby. Understanding your baby’s reflexes

As she waits to see her baby for the first time after birth, a new mum should understand her baby’s reflexes and early habits. Newborn reflexes are involuntary movements or actions of an infant in response to different circumstances.

How soon a mother can hold her baby in her arms after delivery depends on the type of delivery, the condition of the mother and that of her baby. For most new mothers, the baby’s immediate looks at the delivery bed are not exactly what she may have expected. The baby’s head, for example, might look deformed and elongated. And when matters settle, the baby may seem to be sleeping endlessly!

A new mother’s anxiety revolves around several key issues: how baby will look like, how baby will respond to her environment, whether baby will ‘agree’ to breastfeed — or put differently, whether mother will be able to breastfeed the baby. In most cases, infants seem to be in a state of quiet alertness during the first hour or so after delivery. Assessing your new born is an important process that will help you get to know your baby and will also be a perfect time for bonding.

During the first several weeks, your baby will tend to keep his fists clenched, elbows bent, hips and knees flexed and arms and legs held close to the front of her body. This position resembles that which the baby used to assume while in the uterus. Premature infants will have a few different characteristics for example in their posture, appearance, activity and behavior compared with full term newborns.

Primitive reflexes 

Infants are born with a number of instinctual responses to stimuli, such as light or touch, known as primitive reflexes. Primitive reflexes gradually disappear as the baby matures.

The sucking reflex

Triggers an infant to suck on any object put in the mouth. This is why your baby will start sucking on your breast as soon as you position the nipple on her mouth.

The grasp reflex

You will notice that your baby closes her fingers tightly when you put an object into her palm. She will most likely clench your finger if you put it into her hand. This is known as the grasp reflex.

The moro reflex or startle response

Whenever your infant is startled by a loud noise, bright light, strong smell, sudden movement, or other stimulus, she will suddenly throw her arms out to the sides and then quickly bring them back toward the middle of the body.

Also due to the immaturity of their developing nervous systems, young infants’ arms, legs and chins tend to tremble or shake, particularly when they are crying or agitated.

EARLY BABY HABITS

Sleeping 

In the first weeks, your baby will spend most of her time sleeping. Relax too and sleep as there is no cause for alarm.

Breathing 

It is normal for new borns to breathe irregularly. They commonly will have periods during which they stop breathing for about 5 to 10 seconds. Then they start up again on their own. These are known as apneic spells and they are more likely to occur during sleep. When your baby is awake, the breathing pattern will vary widely. Sometimes it will exceed 60 breaths per minute. This is particularly so when your baby is excited or following a bout of crying.

Sneezing and hiccups

These occur very frequently and do not indicate infection, allergies or digestive problems in new borns.

ASSESS your baby and take note of any anomaly. You need to consult with a relative or friend who has experience in child care. Better still, consult your doctor who will help you in determining what is normal and what is not.

END: PG1/45

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