By the 28th week after conception, the fetus can make weak muscular movements, can avoid light or sound by turning its head, can grasp weakly, and can cry, should it be born prematurely. There is a good chance of survival if the baby is born any time after the beginning of the sixth month. The newborn baby, now called a neonate by students of child development, must make five major adjustments at birth. The first breath begins even before the umbilical cord is cut. The circulatory relationship between mother and child ceases when the umbilical cord is severed so the neonate must now eat and digest his own food.
Unlearned reflexes are essential for an infant's survival immediately after birth.
To help make these adjustments, the infant has quite a large number of inborn behavioral patterns, called reflexes or reflex actions. Sucking, swallowing, hiccuping, blinking, urinating, and defecating are all present in the baby's behavioral repertoire at birth. These reflex behaviors are unlearned and are necessary for survival. Other interesting unlearned behavior patterns are illustrated in Figure 8. If the neonate is placed on his back, he will respond to a noise or a slap on the mattress by bringing his legs and arms forward as if to embrace someone or something.