title: Immobility reaction at birth in newborn infant.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe an immobility reaction (IR) that was not previously reported at or immediately after birth in human newborns.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed 31 videos of normal term vaginal deliveries recorded from Time 0 of birth defined as the as the moment that lies between the birth of the thorax and the pelvis of the infant. We searched for perinatal factors associated with newborn's IR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IR at birth was observed in 8 of the 31 newborns. The main features of their behavior were immobilization, frozen face, shallow breathing and bradycardia. One of the 8 newborns had sudden collapse 2h after birth. We found significant relationships between maternal prenatal stress (PS) and IR (p=.037), and a close to significant one between infants' lividness at Time 0 and IR (p=.053). The first breath of the 31 newborns occurred before and was not associated with the first cry (p<.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The main features of IR at birth are similar to those of the universal most severe response to severe stress or danger. The relationship with PS suggests that children who had IR at birth might be at risk for similar disorders as those associated with PS. Sudden neonatal collapse of one of the IR newborns needs further research to determine if they are at risk for sudden infant death syndrome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This first report of an IR reaction at birth in human infants could open up new paths for improving early neonatal care. Further research is needed for maternal PS, stress hormones, umbilical cord blood pH measurements in IR newborns. The challenge of education and support for parents of IR newborns is outlined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Sciences, University of Mons, Belgium; Department of Obstetrics, Tivoli University Hospital, La Louviere, Belgium. Electronic address: pierre.rousseau@umons.ac.be.
authors.forename: Pierre Victor
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Rousseau
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Tivoli University Hospital, La Louviere, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Francotte
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Tivoli University Hospital, La Louviere, Belgium.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fabbricatore
authors.affiliation: Child and Adolescent Clinical Unit, University of Liege, Belgium.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Frischen
authors.affiliation: Child and Adolescent Clinical Unit, University of Liege, Belgium.
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Duchateau
authors.affiliation: Child and Adolescent Clinical Unit, University of Liege, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perin
authors.affiliation: Child and Adolescent Clinical Unit, University of Liege, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gauthier
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Sciences, University of Mons, Belgium.
authors.forename: Willy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lahaye
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003448:Crying; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D046353:Immobility Response, Tonic; D007223:Infant; D018730:Infant Behavior; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000523:psychology; D012119:Respiration; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D014741:Video Recording
keywords: Birth; First breath; First cry; Immobility reaction; Neonatal collapse; Newborn infant; Prenatal stress