Chapter 4; Part 2

Question 1

Precious Moments After Birth:

Bonding, Oxytocin

Answer 1

Oxytocin causes the breasts to “let down” milk, and heightens the mother’s response to baby

First-time fathers also show hormonal changes that are associated with positive emotional reactions to infants.

But parent–infant relationship not dependent upon immediate bonding

Question 2

Neonatal Reflexes

Answer 2

Involuntary movement responses to a particular stimuli which are present at birth and occur in a predictable way

Question 3

Infant vs. Lifespan Reflexes

Answer 3

\Most “infant” reflexes do not last beyond the first year.

Infant reflexes may not completely disappear
– Might be integrated into new movements

Reflexes that endure are called “lifespan” reflexes
– Examples?

Question 4

Why is the study of infant reflexes important?

Answer 4

• Dominant form of movement for last 4 months prenatally and first 4 months postnatally
• Primitive reflexes critical for human survival
• Foundation for later voluntary movement
• Appearance and disappearance helpful in diagnosing neurological disorders

Question 5

Survival Value of Reflexes

Answer 5

Human infants are essentially helpless

Primitive reflexes occur during gestation or at birth, and most are repressed by 6 months of age
– Protection
– Nutrition
– Survival

Question 6

Role of Reflexes in Developing Future Movement

Answer 6

Postural reflexes are related to the development of later voluntary movement.
– Reflexes integrated modified and incorporated into more complex patterns to form voluntary movements.
– Automatic movement is “practice” for future voluntary movements.

Question 7

Reflexes as Diagnostic Tools

Answer 7

Moro reflex:
May signify cerebral birth injury if lacking or asymmetric.

Asymmetric tonic reflex:
May indicate cerebral palsy or other neurological problem if persists past normal time.

Question 8

Primitive Reflexes

Answer 8

• Palmar Grasp
• Sucking
• Moro
• Asymmetric Tonic Neck
• Symmetric Tonic Neck
• Plantar Grasp
• Babinski

Question 9

Palmar Grasp

Answer 9

Primitive Reflexes

Stimulus: Palm stimulated
Response: 4 fingers (but not thumb) close

Duration: 5 months gestation through 4 months postpartum

Concerns:
No palmer grasp may indicate neurological problems

One of the most noticeable reflexes.

May lead to voluntary reaching/grasping .

May predict handedness in adulthood.

Question 10

Sucking

Answer 10

Primitive Reflexes

Stimulus: touch of lips
Response: sucking action

Duration: In utero through 3 months postpartum

Concerns: No reflex problematic for nutrition

Often in conjunction with searching reflex

Question 11

Moro

Answer 11

Primitive Reflexes

Stimuli:
Suddenly but gently lower baby’s head
Hit surface beside baby

Response: Arms & legs extend

Duration: Prenatal through 4-6 months postpartum

Concerns:
May signify CNS dysfunction if lacking.
May signify sensory motor problem if persists.
May delay sitting & head control if persists.
May indicate injury to one side of brain if asymmetrical.

Reaction time increases with age.

Question 12

Asymmetric Tonic Neck

Answer 12

Primitive Reflexes

Stimulus: Prone/supine position, turn head to one side

Response: Limbs flex on one side, extend on other side

Duration: After birth through 3 months

Concerns:
Facilitates bilateral body awareness.
Facilitates hand-eye coordination.

Also called ‘bow & arrow’ or ‘fencer’s’ position

Question 13

Plantar Grasp

Answer 13

Primitive Reflexes

Stimulus: Touching the ball of foot
Response: Toes grasp

Must disappear before the baby can stand or walk.

Question 14

Babinski

Answer 14

Primitive Reflexes

Stimulus: Stroke bottom or lateral portion of foot
Response: Great toe turns downward

Duration: Birth – 4 months

Concern: Test of ability to perform conscious/voluntary movement

Question 15

Postural Reflexes

Answer 15

• Stepping

* Swimming

Question 16

Stepping

Answer 16

Postural Reflexes

Stimulus: Infant upright with feet touching surface
Response: Legs lift and descend

Duration: After birth through 5–6 months

Concerns: Essential forerunner to walking.

Sometimes called walking reflex.

Developmental changes in reflex over time.

Question 17

Swimming

Answer 17

Postural Reflexes

Stimulus: Infant held horizontally
Response: Arms & legs move in coordinated swimming type action

Duration: 2 weeks after birth through 5 months

Recognition of reflex led to popularity of infant swim programs

Question 18

Infant States of Arousal

Answer 18

• Regular sleep
• Irregular sleep
• Drowsiness
• Quiet alertness
• Waking activity and crying

Question 19

REM Sleep

Answer 19

REM sleep is vital for the development of the CNS

Question 20

The Mysterious Tragedy of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Answer 20

SIDS is the leading cause of infant mortality between 1 week and 12 months in industrialized nations.

Its occurrence tends to peak between 2–4 months of age.

Question 21

Reducing Incidence of SIDS

Answer 21

– Quit smoking and taking drugs.
– Put babies to sleep on their backs.
– Remove bedclothes.
– Pacifiers are another protective measure.

Question 22

Ways to Soothe a Crying Baby

Answer 22

–  Hold on shoulder and rock or walk 
–  Swaddle
–  Pacifier
–  Soothing sounds
–  Ride in carriage, car, swing 
–  Massage
–  Combine methods
–  Let cry for short time

Question 23

Think about it…

What if the soothing techniques don’t work?

Answer 23

Soothing techniques are less likely to work on babies with CNS damage and preterm babies.

Question 24

Newborn Sense of Touch

Answer 24

Reflexive response to touch on mouth, palms, & soles.

Sensitive to pain
– Pain can affect later behavior.
– Relieve pain with anesthetics, sugar, gentle holding

Question 25

Newborn Senses of Taste & Smell

Answer 25

– Prefer sweet tastes at birth
– Quickly learn to like new tastes
– Have odor preferences from birth
– Can locate odors and identify mother by smell from birth

Question 26

Newborn Sense of Hearing

Answer 26

– Can hear a wide variety of sounds at birth
– Prefer complex sounds to pure tones
– Learn sound patterns within days
– Sensitive to voices and biologically prepared to learn language

Question 27

Newborn Sense of Vision

Answer 27

– Least developed of the senses at birth
– Unable to see long distances, focus clearly
– Scan environment and try to track interesting objects
– Color vision improves in first 2 months.

Question 28

Neonatal Behavioral Assessment

Answer 28

Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) evaluates a baby’s reflexes, muscle tone, state changes, responsiveness to physical and social stimuli (developed by T. Berry Brazelton).

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Network Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS) is specially designed for use with newborns at risk for developmental problems.

Question 29

Transition to Parenthood

Answer 29

Gender roles may become more traditional.

Sharing caregiving predicts greater happiness and sensitivity to the baby.

Postponing parenthood until the late 20’s or 30’s eases transition.

Question 30

Easing the transition…

Answer 30

• Devise a plan for sharing household tasks
• Being sharing child care right aker the baby’s arrival
• Talk over conflicts
• Establish a balance between work and parenting
• Press for workplace and public policies that assist parents in rearing children

Question 31

Parent Interventions

Answer 31

Pre-birth counseling can ease the transition to parenthood.

High-risk parents struggling with poverty or a baby with disabilities will benefit from intensive home interventions.

Low-income parents may require tangible support (food, money, affordable childcare).

Question 32

Single Mother Families

Answer 32

40% of babies in U.S. are born to single mothers

Most nonmarital births are unplanned.
– Unprepared, adolescent teens
– Low-income women in 20s
– Exception is financially secure women ages 30–45

Question 33

Discussion Question

Answer 33

Out of everything you’ve read and heard about today, what do you think is the most important aspect of parenting a newborn?

– Consider sensory integration, utilization of resources/programs, regular discussions with your partner, maternal/paternal health & well-being, the co-parenting relationship, assessing newborn health at home (sleep patterns, etc.)…

Question 34

Body Growth

Answer 34

Baby gains 50% in height from birth to age 1.
– height about 32 inches
– weight about 22 lbs.

Baby gains 75% in height by age 2.
– height about 36 inches
– weight about 30 lbs.

Babies grow in spurts
– Could be spurts that happen in a matter of ______!
Babies gain “baby fat” until about ________, then get slimmer.

Girls are slightly shorter and lighter than boys, there are some ethnic differences.

Question 35

Growth Trends

Answer 35

Cephalocaudal
– “Head to tail”
– Lower part of body grows (later/earlier) than the head

Proximodistal
– “Near to far”
– Arms & legs grow later than head, chest, and trunk

Question 36

Cephalocaudal

Answer 36

– “Head to tail”

– Lower part of body grows (later/earlier) than the head

Question 37

Proximodistal

Answer 37

– “Near to far”
From the center of the body outward.
– Arms & legs grow later than head, chest, and trunk

Question 38

Infancy Individual and Group Differences

Answer 38

Weight and Height:
Girls girls

Skeletal Age
Black > other
Girls > boys