Shock of birth explained

Shock of birth is the transient depression of muscle tone and deep tendon reflexes that occurs in newborns after birth. In 70% of newborns, it lasts less than 24 hours, and in 84.3% less than 48 hours. Its presence is not affected by whether birth happened through vaginal delivery or cesarean delivery.^[1] The term was introduced in 1960.^[2]

Notes and References

1. Riesgo Rdos S, Rotta AT, Rotta AT. (1996). Shock of birth. Evaluation of neurologic status of term newborn in the first 48 hours of life. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 54(3):361-8.
2. Escardó F, Coriat LF. (1960). Development of postural and tonic patterns in the newborn infant. Pediatr Clin North Am. 7(3):511-25.