Baby Assessment

Infant mortality is a major problem faced in the present day despite advances in prenatal care and postnatal screenings.

1. A new-born screening is needed that helps in early detection of short-term and long-term developmental, physical and congenital anomalies.
2. Functional movement builds upon experiences of moving in space from the neonatal period forward. The earlier we recognize any difficulty in movement of the newborn the better is the prognosis (in terms of movement).
3. Constraints during the developmental period either internal or external lead to system shutdown or long-term restrictions. The assessment will help to evaluate the movement of such a child who had continued stay in ICU to identify any atypical movements.
4. An infant’s inability to respond and move in their new environment using oppositional forces creates immediate deviations and delays. If the atypical pattern of movement can be caught early by the care giver or mother /father the earlier the diagnosis the better the prognosis.

The Movement Lesson™ Newborn Movement Assessment program addresses these issues by evaluating each newborn and scoring them based on key points of rotational movements in order to respond to basic principles of the natural laws of Movement.

The Newborn Movement Assessment™ is the only baby assessment of it’s kind that can determine a baby’s early intervention needs from day one of birth. This assessment can be used for children of any age to assess if movement is normal or delayed.

‘wait and watch’ is no longer the strategy to assess delayed milestones.

If you are not anxious about your child’s developmental health but you simply want to enhance their movement performance, then too this  assessment tool will prove helpful.

Please note that the baby assessment is called the “Newborn Movement Assessment,” but the assessment can be done on any child of any age. A child’s birth experience plays a role in determining your child’s risk for developmental delays. Any movement restrictions in their system influenced at the time of birth or any other pathology developed in utero can cause delay in initiating movement in the infant.

The more rotation a child has in their system, the more potential your child has for an exceptional future! 

2016 © Michelle Turner *Do not copy and paste any of this material – Subject to copyright* 

Welcome to the Newborn Movement Assessment™ (NMA). This video intends to give parents and professionals the opportunity to assess an infant's movements from birth throughout their first year of life. 

Presently there are medical and genetic tests to assist, coordinate and direct an infants, doctors and nurses in order to identify current and potential health concerns. In contrast, the Newborn Movement Assessment™ introduces an affective comprehensive guide to determine short term and long-term development concerns, and also optimize and stimulate the baby's movement patterns through gentle touch. 

The Newborn Movement Assessment™ is a tool for assessing any babies, typical or atypical birth experience. 

The necessity for early detection and intervention is clearly evident in the growing prevalence of developmental concerns such as Autism, Cerebral Palsy (CP), and genetic disorders.  Without this crucial early intervention program, infants exhibiting movement concerns are at a much higher risk of long-term special needs. 

These techniques will result in immediate improvements to an infant's development. Whether the infant is completely healthy or demonstrating significant developmental delays. Ultimately, the objective of the Newborn Movement Assessment™ is to demonstrate that initiating specific movement patterns at birth or shortly afterwards will encourage optimal cognitive and motor development. 

The evaluation of birth, a full term vaginal delivery is key to the development of a baby central nervous system. One of the primary purposes of vaginal delivery is to initiate rotation in a newborn central nervous system and also to stimulate the brain's ability to learn from movement and environmental stimulation. 

A pregnancy that is unable to deliver a baby naturally through the birth canal due to possible medical complications is either pre planned or an emergency cesarian. 

Movement trauma which affects a newborn's natural movement patterns increases as the interventions to delivery increase. The simple act of pulling a baby out of the uterus without any purposeful rotation can fail to stimulate the central nervous system, limiting the ability for a baby to react to stimuli; therefore, limits the newborn's ability to respond to the environment. 

One of the most important features of this baby assessment is the ability to identify an infant's lack of rotation immediately following birth. 

The Newborn Movement Assessment™ Evaluation can be completed while the newborn [or child] is awake or asleep. It is recommended for newborns to be lying on their back to conduct the assessment. You can set up a phone or video camera to record your thoughts and observations as you evaluate your child. 

2016 © Michelle Turner *Do not copy and paste any of this material – Subject to copyright* 

Rotation of the head.  

Gently slide your fingers underneath the head. Slightly tilt the head to the left and then to the right. 

Did you notice that you cannot move the head to the right, but you can to the left?  

Did you notice that your infant's head is asymmetrical or lying down? 

Does the infant's head or nose or face 1 foot or one shoulder?  

Does the same side of the shoulder and pelvis present with less rotation?  

If you've answered yes to any of these questions, place a one on the evaluation sheet. 

Rotation of the shoulders.  

Gently slide wanted two fingers under the right shoulder with the light lift. In most cases the width of your two fingers will be enough. Depending on the size of the child. Now slide wanted two fingers under left shoulder with a light lift.  

Was it easy to lift both shoulders?  

Did you notice that both arms responding? 

By going in and out of a bed position?  

Did you notice a significant difference from lifting the right side in comparison to the left?  

Did the infant's head respond to the movement on one shoulder? 

Were one or both arms stiffer straight?  

Were one or both arms floppier non-responsive? 

If you've answered yes to any of the questions, place a one on the evaluation sheet. 

Rotation of the arms and elbows. 

Gently slide your hand under the right elbow as you lifted the elbow. Notice if the arm is moving and is bending in and out when touching or picking up the elbow gently through the mid arm. Focus on rotation, not bending the elbow. Repeat the same assessment on the left elbow. 

Was it easy to lift both elbows? 

Was it easy to rotate the arms in the elbows?  

Is there a difference in rotation from the left in comparison to the right? 

Did the arms just seem stiff or non-responsive? 

If you've answered yes to any of these questions, place a 1 on the appropriate space on the baby assessment sheet. 

Rotation of the hands.  

Gently lift your infant’s hand to your fingers. Gently rotate their hand through the palm and the wrists and the right to the left. 

Is there a difference in rotation from the left in comparison to the right?  

Is it hard to open the hand?  

Do the fingers move in and out and around you? 

If there is movement concerns, is there rotation in each finger?  

Does the infant startle or panic?  

If you've answered yes to any of these questions, place a one on the baby assessment sheet. 

Rotation of the spine. 

Gently rotate your child on their side, moving their pelvis forwards and backwards. After doing this a few times, lie the child on their back and rest.  

Is there difference within the rotation going forwards to backwards when the child is on their side? Is it easy for the body to go back and forth with the movement?  

Does the infant startle or panic?  

Does the infant seem stiff or it's hard to rotate through the spine? 

Does he infant seem soft or non-responsive to rotation?  

Does your infant seem to fall is floppy? 

If you've answered yes to these questions, place a 1 on the spine section of the Newborn Movement Assessment™ Evaluation Guide Sheet. 

2016 © Michelle Turner *Do not copy and paste any of this material – Subject to copyright* 

Rotation of the chest.  

Gently touch your infant's chest as if you were checking on how they were breathing. Gently rotate the chest to the right and to the left.  

Is there a difference in rotation from the left in comparison to the right?  

Do you feel the rotation in the chest?  

Does the infant seem stiff or is it hard to rotate through the chest?  

Does the infant seem soft or non-responsive to rotation? 

Does the infant startle panic or seem to stop breathing?  

Does the infant seem to fall is floppy? 

If you've answered yes to any of these questions, place a one on the chest section of the baby assessment sheet.

Rotation of the pelvis. 

Gently slide one to two fingers under the right pelvis with a light lift. In most cases, the width of your two fingers will be enough for a lift depending on the size of the infant. Now slide one to two fingers under the left pelvis with the light lift.  

Was it easy to lift both sides of the pelvis?  

Did you notice that both legs responded by going in and out of a bent position? 

Did you notice significant difference from lifting the right side in comparison to the left?  

Were one or both legs stiff or straight?  

Were one or both legs floppy non responsive?  

If you've answered a yes to any of these questions, place a 1 under the pelvis section on the baby assessment. 

Rotation of the legs and knees.  

Gently slide your hand under the right knee. As you lift the knee, notice it the leg gently bends, or if the leg stay straight. There is a difference between a leg that goes in and out and the leg engaging in a bend. Lightly hold the thigh through the femur and rotate your hand left and right, noting if the leg also rotates. 

Does the infant's leg flop with no response?  

Now touch or pick up the knees. Do not bend, but rotate gently through the mid leg.  

Does there seem to be a difference between the right side and left side? 

Does one or both sides of the child's body not seem to rotate? 

Does some of the infant’s body appear to be stiff or floppy?  

Does the inference startle or panic?  

If you've answered yes to any of these questions, place a 1 under the legs and knees section on the baby assessment sheet. 

Rotation of the feet and ankles. 

Gently touch or pick up the ankles. Do not bend, but rotate gently through the foot around the leg.  

Does the infants foot just seem floppy with no response?  

Does the infant’s foot seem stiff, straight, hard to bend or rotate?  

Does there seem to be a difference between the right side and the left side?  

Does either one side or both sides of the child's body seem not to rotate.  

Does the infant startle or panic? 

Is a rotation in each toe?  

If you've answered yes to any of these questions, place a 1 under the feet and ankles section found on the Newborn Movement Assessment™ Guide Evaluation Sheet. 

Initiate gentle healthy touch.  

Gentle touch is very powerful. The more that you touch your baby with rotation an ease of movement, the more rotation and ease of movement the baby will have. Give your child more movement possibilities using the Movement Lesson™ Touch and Technique. The more that you apply the technique, the more movement possibilities the baby will have. It's that simple. 

The intent of the Newborn Movement Assessment™ is for parents and professionals to understand that initiating movement patterns immediately within days of birth will lead to optimal cognitive develop. 

Sound medical decisions should be continually made for each infant. The baby assessment called the Newborn Movement Assessment™ is not critical of delivery choices or medical evaluations. Rather, it is designed to be complementary to assessments already in place, such as the APGAR score. 

The Newborn Movement Assessment™ is not intended to be a substitute for the medical advice of physicians. The reader should regularly consult a physician in matters relating to their infants health, particularly with respect to any symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention. 

By joining this exciting community you will learn how to help infants from the moment that they enter the world and change the lives of countless children and families. 

Out of necessity to help our globally delayed child Michelle Turner movement integration specialist, created movement lesson to benefit children throughout the world. 

PURCHASE THE PAPER BOOK VERSION OF THIS BABY ASSESSMENT ON AMAZON. 

2016 © Michelle Turner *Do not copy and paste any of this material – Subject to copyright* 

*0 -5 Low Risk

Your child is presenting with developmental movement patterns and is responding in typical newborn mannerisms. Feel free to review rotation and initiate gentle healthy touch as you continue to bond with your child.

*5 – 10 Slight Risk

Whether your score is just from the events during the birthing process and time in the hospital and the rotation is presenting as normal or typical, your child has concerns with slight or some signs of inability to move and/or react to stimulus. Start applying Movement Lesson and initiating gently healthy touch during bonding activities and play. Re-assess your baby within a few days to a week and note if rotation scores have improved or remain unchanged.

*10 – 15 Moderate Risk

Your child is showing signs that they might be at risk for short or long term developmental concerns. Start applying Movement Lesson and initiating gently healthy touch on a daily basis, once to two times per day for a period of fifteen minutes to one hour. Re-assess your baby within a few days to a week and on a weekly basis to note any rotation and development. Review these notes with your physician.

*15 + High Risk

Your child has been presented with care to help it become medically sound. During and after hospitalization, start applying Movement Lesson and initiating gently healthy touch on a daily basis, throughout the day in localized effected areas and throughout their system, for a period of fifteen minutes to one hour. Re-assess your baby within a few days to a week and on a weekly basis to note any rotation and development. Review these notes with your physician.

*The Newborn Movement Assessment™ NMA is not intended to substitute for medical advice of physicians. The reader should regularly consult a physician in matters relating to their child’s health and particularly with respect to any symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention.

Michelle Turner © 2016

2016 © Michelle Turner *Do not copy and paste any of this material – Subject to copyright* 

Welcome to the Newborn movement assessment. Now that you have assessed your child's birth and rotation, it's time to initiate the gentle, healthy touch. 

Touching the head.  

Simply touch your infant's head in a soft manner without actually holding their head.  

Place your hands backside down next to the side of their head with the tips of your fingers at the base of the head.  

Gently touch to see how the head responds to the right and to the left. 

Now gently cup their head into your hands as if you're holding a rosebud. 

The touch that I'm teaching you is as soft as if you were touching butter without leaving your fingerprint. 

Touching the shoulders  

As your baby is lying down, the simple act of placing your fingers under their shoulders is a movement lesson. 

The width of your fingers is enough movement to initiate change.  

In a soft slow manner as if the child was crawling or swimming and with the light lift with rotation move the right shoulder towards the left shoulder or the pelvis.  

After doing this movement several times, repeat the lesson from the left shoulder. 

The movements are slow and soft, as if you're thinking of a small boat in water. 

Touching the arms and elbows.  

A movement lesson focusing on the arms can be done in any position as your infant lies in your arms.  

Gently place your fingers around the elbow as if you're picking up a strawberry and curious looking at it. 

Allow his hands to move about as you introduce his movement to his brain.  

The simple act of rotating the elbow down to your lap and up to the half position or horizontal position is one way an infant gained sensation of movement which is separated for the activity of the shoulders. 

2016 © Michelle Turner *Do not copy and paste any of this material – Subject to copyright* 

Touching the wrist and hands.  

Place your thumb on the one side of the wrist and the pointer or middle finger on the other side with almost no movement on your part.  

Feel the wrist, wide within your fingers as you move your baby's fingers to the chest.  

Imagine eventually the ability to bring food or an object to his mouth. 

As you move his fingers towards midsection, imagine that he's learning how to bring his hands to the floor to crawl.  

If there's any resistance for lack of response, do not use force.  

Maintain a gentle, healthy touch with rotation. 

Okay, move your fingers down into the palm of his hands and continue the same gliding motion as you feel the palm.  

Move in and out of your hand.  

Notice how his wrists can bend up and down around his hands.  

They will want to move in and out of your fingers like a marsupial. 

These movements will be involuntary as they are simply responding to your stimulus of touch. 

2016 © Michelle Turner *Do not copy and paste any of this material – Subject to copyright* 

Working on the Spine 

Gently lay your child on the table. 

Create a motion that looks like your plot to play the piano, and gently touch the top position of the spine.  

Start your gentle rotational touch at the top of the spine, repeating the process down the spine every quarter of an inch, as you bring awareness to the infant spine. 

Incorporate a slight twist with your hands across their pelvis.  

This is helping to create and enforce a gentle counterbalance and rotation throughout the spine and pelvis. 

Working with the chest  

With one hand to the side of the spine and the other hand to the side to the center of the chest.  

Not directly on, but to the side of the sternum or the chest bone.  

Initiate gentle, healthy touch, as if you were sliding or moving to the slide. 

At the same time, the hand in the back is countering the same movement.  

Watch the video as I walk you through these movements.  

Do not try to apply the tempo or the touch of your info's breathing as he breathes much faster rate than an adult's.  

This is not a form of CPR but a way of showing the chest cavity had to move and twist around the spine. 

Touching the pelvis  

As you scoop or Cup your hands under a diaper bottom. Leave each and under each side of the pelvis.  

Work with one side with a few gentle lifts.  

Now initiate gentle lifts on the other side, rising no more than an inch from the surface where the infant is. 

Now try another new movement.  

Gently lift one side of the pelvis as you rock or go to the left and then back again.  

Now gently rock the other side of the pelvis.  

Imagine a tiny boat rocking back and forth in the water.  

This is the same motion of going from side to side with your infant safe in your hands.  

When you're finished playing with the rocking pelvis, then you can go work on a gentle roll. 

Touching the legs and knees 

As your infant lies comfortably on his back, place yourself at his feet looking at his face.  

When working with the right leg, place your right hand under the midsection holding in the diaper and hold the back of the right leg, including the knee.  

Gently rotate the leg and knee through the pelvis into the leg.  

Do the same with the left leg. 

This is similar to the feeling that one has when driving a car. 

Touching the feet and ankles 

Now gently touch and stimulate each toe. 

This is especially important if your infant required an IV or had a pulse oximeter around the feet.  

Initiate a gentle rotational touch to each toe as if they were like little keys on a typewriter allowed the total respond back to your downward touch.  

Feel free to add to the poem this little piggy to each to this movement can be incorporated starting from the top of the bottom of the foot. 

The Newborn Movement Assessment™ is not intended to be a substitute for the medical advice of physicians. The reader should regular, consult a physician matters relating to their infants health, particularly with respect to any symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention. For further information regarding this baby assessment, please contact [email protected]  

To become a Movement Lesson™ Practitioner click here.  

By joining this exciting community, you learn how to help infants from the moment that they enter the world and change the lives of countless children and families. 

Out of necessity to help her globally delayed child Ashel Turner movement integration. 

2016 © Michelle Turner *Do not copy and paste any of this material – Subject to copyright*