Moro reflex in newborns, adults. What is it when it passes, how to get rid

A child is born with a number of congenital unconditioned reflexes. They serve as a natural defense for him to maintain the vital functions of the body. Some of them disappear during the first months, while others remain throughout life.

Reflexes are involuntary movements or actions. Some movements are spontaneous and occur as part of the child's normal activities.

Others are responses to certain actions. Health professionals test reflexes to determine if the brain and nervous system are working well. Some syndromes, such as the Moro reflex, occur only during certain periods of development.

The primitive reflexes of newborns present at birth are symmetrical and disappear with age from 4 to 6 months, which indicates the normal maturation of the descending inhibitory influences of the head brain. In children with neurological disorders, motor diseases, the Moreau reaction can remain forever, even in adulthood.

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The Moro reflex in newborns is observed in various forms:

• Incomplete reflex. This type of syndrome is observed in incomplete form with premature birth after the 25th week of pregnancy.
• Partial or asymmetrical. As a result of this form, the syndrome is present on only one side of the body. This indicates a sign of injury or trauma that occurred during childbirth.
• Exaggerated reflex. It is observed in children with severe brain damage that occurred in utero, including microcephaly and hydrocephalus, in newborns with moderate hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Complications before birth can cause an exaggerated reflex.
• Lack of reflex. It is a sign of problems with the nervous system. The syndrome is impaired or absent in children with nuclear jaundice.
• Saved. When a child demonstrates a reflex after 6 months and even in adulthood. Its persistence after six months and older is noted only in children with severe neurological defects, including cerebral palsy.
• The presence of the syndrome in its full form. Development begins at 28–32 weeks of gestation and ends in the newborn after 4–5 months.

Stages and degrees

The Moro reflex in newborns is determined by two stages:

• Stage 1. Abrupt oscillatory movements of the arms in an extended position. The fingers expand to reveal the arms. The startled look on the face of the child is often accompanied by a cry.
• Stage 2. The child draws in his body, bends his arms to bring them back, closer to the body, practically hugging himself. At the same time, the fingers are clenched into a fist. The legs may be extended or bent again.

These reactions are triggered by the release of adrenaline and other stress hormones in response to a sudden change in the environment.

Symptoms

Moreau's syndrome allows the baby to take the first breath when leaving the birth canal.

Subsequently, the correct symptoms can be checked as follows:

• Lightly and unexpectedly hit the pillow on which the newborn's head rests. In this case, the hands of the child, which were previously in a bent position, move apart, and the fingers are spread out.
• If the child's legs are suddenly slightly extended, he creates a movement of the arms similar to the first situation. The hands are pulled to the side, the fingers expand, and then everything comes to its original position.
• You can check in another way. Slap on the changing table where the baby is lying. In response, he will spread his arms and straighten his bent legs. After 2-3 sec. will return to its original position. You can also take the child by the hind legs and lift them slightly, stretching them out. The reaction will be the same.

This is a normal reactive state, on the basis of which it is concluded that the child is fine with reflexes. This syndrome should normally be present up to 4–5 months.

In the future, you should carefully observe the involuntary movements of the baby. If a child often spreads his arms for no reason, and his movements are asymmetric, then you should pay attention to this and seek advice from a pediatrician.

In infancy, the syndrome is triggered by the sensory system, but if it does not disappear later in life, then it causes problems. The adrenal glands begin to work in an increased mode, which leads to hyperactivity and subsequently to problems with attention.

Once the adrenal glands are tired of overstimulation, the child usually develops chronic allergies, asthma, autoimmune and other health problems associated with adrenal fatigue. In addition, when the body is constantly in a “crunch” mode, the brain is in an agitated state and cannot store or perceive information. This leads to further learning problems.

In subsequent years, clinical manifestations of the pathological activity of a reflex that was not completed in infancy can be observed:

• aggressiveness;
• isolation;
• hypersensitivity;
• difficulty communicating with others;
• immature emotions;
• heightened imagination.

Changes also occur at the hormonal level:

• decreased production of cortisol;
• excess norepinephrine;
• depositing blood (accumulating it in the venous vessels).

Reasons for the appearance

The Moro reflex in newborns is a normal involuntary reaction in newborns when they are startled or afraid. It consists in spreading the arms, extending the legs and then bending them. The reflex is inherent in all healthy full-term newborns. The reaction is evidence of the symmetry of the functioning of the nervous system, spinal and lower parts of the brain stem.

The syndrome is a reflex reaction that occurs during the 9th week of pregnancy and stops with the maturation of the baby's nervous system after birth for 3-4 months.

The stimuli that trigger the reflex can be very different. These include acoustic, visual or position changes. As a reaction to shock with a sharp rise, sound, the child opens his mouth, his hands part, his fingers spread out. Then the mouth is closed, the fingers are clenched into a fist, and the hands are brought together in front of the chest.

This reaction of the body can often be observed during sleep. In preventive medical examinations by pediatricians, the Moro reflex serves to assess the normal development of the child.

The stimuli that trigger the reflex can be very different. These include, for example, acoustic or visual, as well as position changes. Involuntary fright can be caused by a sudden change in the position of the child, a loud sound that sounded close, or his own scream.

The absence of this reflex in a child is abnormal and indicates damage to the brain or spinal cord.

The absence of a unilateral reflex suggests the possibility of a fracture of the clavicle or damage to the nerve group in the lower neck and upper brachial plexus.

If this condition persists beyond the 4th month of life, it can lead to serious developmental disabilities. In these cases, motility and developmental treatment should be initiated so that secondary conditions such as ADHD can be counteracted.

The presence of the syndrome in an older age or in an adult is also abnormal.

Diagnostics

To trigger the Moro reflex, the doctor will begin tapping on the abdomen or on the surface next to the head. If the reflex works, then the child will stretch and then slowly return to its original position.

If problems are found, a general inspection and analysis is carried out:

• physical development is assessed;
• the presence of malformations, external signs of genetic disorders is revealed;
• mental development is assessed at the time of the examination.

The history should include:

• familial neurological disorders;
• chronic diseases,
• the course of pregnancy,
• success or abnormalities in childbirth;
• difficulties in the postpartum period;
• child behavior.

The doctor will determine the neurological status according to certain criteria:

• determination of the presence of deep reflexes and their symmetry;
• setting the norm of sensitivity;
• the state of the cranial nerves;
• the presence of reflexes of a newborn, characteristic of his age.

If reflexes are absent or impaired, additional tests may be required to examine the child's nerves and muscles:

• X-ray of the shoulder.
• Tests to identify disorders associated with damage to the brachial plexus.

In rare cases, the absence of the Moro reflex can be caused by a sign of Down syndrome.

When to see a doctor

The Moro reflex is a normal, involuntary response of the body in newborns and infants. However, you should talk to your doctor if your baby is still showing reflex symptoms after six months, or if you suspect that his syndrome is working out more often than usual. To do this, you should visit a pediatrician and a neurologist.

Prophylaxis

The syndrome occurs only in response to an event that is unexpected and abrupt for the child. As soon as the child realizes that nothing threatens him, his hands return inward, and he relaxes. After the reflex has worked, the baby must be comforted. Calm down in a low voice or lead to a dark and quiet room for motion sickness.

However, he should not be scared:

• The child should be lowered into bed horizontally, without tilting his head back.
• Keep the baby as close to the body as possible by lowering it into the crib.
• If a reflex occurs during sleep and the baby wakes up, swaddling before bed will help him.
• A good night's rest is just as important for the mother as it is for the baby, so the baby's sleeping area should be comfortable, quiet and dark so that he doesn't get scared.

Treatment methods

There is no special generally accepted tactics for treating increased neuro-reflex excitability. Many doctors attribute this disorder to a borderline state and advise such children to be monitored without medication.

Medications

Some neurologists suggest drugs to correct activity in benign non-specific psychomotor retardation.

Name	Indications	Mode of application	Price
To reduce reflex-nervous excitability
Phenobarbital	Relief of tension, anxiety, excitement, with neurovegetative disorders.	Up to 6 months 5 mg 6 to 1 year 10 mg 3-4 years 20 mg 5-6 years 40 mg 7-9 years 50 mg 10-14 years 75 mg In 30 min. before meals twice a day Adults 10-50 mg.	RUB 25
Diazepam	Removal of excitability of various etiologies, sleep disturbances.	The daily dose is from 0.5 to 60 mg. The frequency and duration of the course is prescribed by the doctor.	RUB 50
Sonapax	A drug with neuroleptic properties, used in the case of psychomotor agitation, increased activity (in child psychiatry)	Children's doses: 4 to 7 years 10-20 mg 2-3 times a day 8-14 years 20-26 mg 2 times / day 15-18 years, 10-50 mg three times / day Adults - as prescribed by a doctor, depending on the diagnosis.	RUB 300
With delayed mental, motor development or speech
Nootropil	In case of imbalance. Psychogenic dizziness, with memory impairment, mood.	The drug is given according to symptoms by intravenous infusion or by mouth.	RUB 250
Encephabol	With mental retardation, impaired thinking, memory, increased fatigue.	Up to 3 years of age are prescribed from 0.05 to 0.1 g From 4 to 10 years old, 0.15 g each From 11 to 14 years old, 0.3 g. It is taken twice a day after meals.	800 RUB
Aminalon	Mental retardation with decreased mental activity	For children from 1 to 3 years old, the daily dose is 100 mg, from 4 to 6 years old, 150 mg, for children over 7 years old, 200 mg. The duration of the course is from 2 weeks to several months.	RUB 150
Nootropic drugs
Pantogam	Violation of children's psychological status: delayed speech, learning lag associated with mental development.	The duration of treatment is from 1 to 6 months, for children under 3 years of age, the drug is offered in the form of a syrup. Doses are prescribed by the doctor depending on the symptoms.	RUB 500
Phenibut	Prevention of anxious feelings, with neuroses, insomnia,	A single dose for children is from 20 to 250 mg per day, for adults it is prescribed at 20-750 mg per day.	RUB 150

In most cases, the use of these drugs is little justified. Classes with a speech therapist, psychologists, the principles of herbal medicine are more effective.

Traditional methods

Moro reflex in newborns is marked by a spontaneous reflex, moderate muscular dystonia. It is possible to reduce symptoms with the help of herbal preparations.

Herbal medicine helps well. No more than 2-3 plants are used for drinks. The dose of medicinal tinctures should not exceed 1-3 drops.

For children, you can prepare sedative herbal teas:

• Fennel tea with chamomile is offered for children under 2 years old.
• From 2 to 3 years old, you can offer tea from sage, lemon balm.
• For older children, you can add thyme and valerian to tea.
• Starting from the age of 7, it is advisable to add honey, linden blossom to tea.

To make tea, you should take 1 tbsp. l. herbs, chop, pour 200 g of cold water. Boil the mixture, let it brew. Give the child, taking into account the age of 1 tbsp. l. up to 50 g of the drink three times a day after meals.

Natural drinks soothe well:

• Warm milk Is a classic drink before bed to help you relax. The drink contains the amino acid tryptophan, which causes the brain to release serotonin, converting it into melatonin and causing drowsiness. The high calcium content reduces stress.
• Almond milk. Almonds are high in melatonin, calcium and magnesium. Magnesium is an essential mineral for rest and relaxation.
• Banana smoothie. For a drink before bed, mix a banana with almond milk and a spoonful of peanut butter, which adds even more tryptophan. The drink contains many beneficial vitamins and minerals.

There is some evidence for the health benefits of essential oils used in baby massage:

• Chamomile is a home remedy for insomnia not only for adults but also for babies. Adding a few drops of chamomile oil to a warm bath has a soothing, relaxing effect.
• You can use diluted essential oils or undiluted sunflower, grape oil during baby massage. Research shows that baby massage can increase weight in premature babies, stimulate development, reduce irritability and sleep disturbances.

Other methods

After determining the threshold of the Moro reflex, low or high, the doctor prescribes special measures. In infants with lesions of the central nervous system, the syndrome is delayed for a long time.

In this case, the appointment of massage exercises to restore impaired muscle tone will be effective. It is equally effective for psychological and behavioral problems. Children with Moreau's syndrome show less hyperactivity with regular massage sessions.

To eliminate hypertonicity or decreased muscle tone in a newborn, elements of physiotherapy, swimming are used. In the future, such children may need consultations with a speech therapist and psychologist.

Possible complications

With the successful development of the syndrome, all negative manifestations disappear after 6 months, in extreme cases, up to 1 year. In more severe cases, a slight lag in the speech, psychomotor development of the child may develop.

In some children, the syndrome manifests itself as:

• hyperactivity;
• pronounced attention deficit;
• enuresis;
• nervous tic;
• sleep disorders;
• stuttering;
• anxiety disorders;
• disorders of the vegetative-vascular system.

Both children and adults with hyperexcitability syndrome, as a consequence of the Moro reflex, should create a calm environment and spare their nervous system. Particular attention should be paid to newborns. They need daily care and timely medical supervision.

Reflex video

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