#365 - What Pregnancy & Birth Can Tell Us About Retained Reflexes

by Jessica Hill, COTA/L & Rachel Harrington, COTA/L, AC June 18, 2025

#365 - What Pregnancy & Birth Can Tell Us About Retained Reflexes

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What Pregnancy & Birth Can Tell Us About Retained Reflexes

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We’re diving deep into the why behind retained primitive reflexes. These early movement patterns are essential in infancy—but when they don’t integrate properly, they can lead to challenges with regulation, development, and everyday functioning.

We cover some of the most common causes of retained reflexes, including:

  • Neurological immaturity

  • Birth trauma or complications during delivery

  • Lack of early movement (think: limited tummy time or crawling)

  • Environmental stressors during pregnancy

  • Prematurity and other perinatal factors

  • Genetic predispositions

We also highlight insights from Sally Goddard Blythe’s work on neuromotor immaturity and how these retained reflexes can show up in both kids and adults.

We also respond to a thoughtful question from a literacy coach about a 5-year-old with ADHD. We explore possible sensory and neurological factors at play—and share ideas for supporting regulation and integration through movement.

This is a must-listen for parents, therapists, and educators who want to better understand the foundational role of reflexes in child development.

We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form ->https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3 

Links

All Things Sensory Podcast Instagram 

Harkla Website 

Harkla YouTube

Harkla Instagram

Neuromotor Immaturity in Children and Adults by Sally Goddard Blyth

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BORING, BUT NECESSARY LEGAL DISCLAIMERS

While we make every effort to share correct information, we are still learning. We will double-check all of our facts, but realize that medicine is a constantly changing science and art. One doctor/therapist may have a different way of doing things from another. We are simply presenting our views and opinions on how to address common sensory challenges, health-related difficulties, and what we have found to be beneficial, which will be as evidence-based as possible. By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or your children. Consult your child’s pediatrician/ therapist for any medical issues that he or she may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Rachel Harrington, Harkla, Jessica Hill, or any guests or contributors to the podcast, as well as any employees, associates, or affiliates of Harkla, be responsible for damages arising from use of the podcast.

Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. We try our best to keep things fair and balanced, in order to help you make the best choice for you.

This podcast should not be used in any legal capacity whatsoever, including but not limited to establishing “standard of care” in a legal sense or as a basis for expert witness testimony. No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy of any statements or opinions made on the podcast.

Jessica Hill, COTA/L & Rachel Harrington, COTA/L, AC
Jessica Hill, COTA/L & Rachel Harrington, COTA/L, AC

Rachel Harrington, COTA/l, AC, CPRCS, and Jessica Hill, COTA/L, CPRCS are Harkla's in-house Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTA) and Certified Primitive Reflex Clinical Specialists. They have been working with children for over 6 years in outpatient settings. They specialize in creating easy-to-digest, actionable content that families can use to help their child's progress at home. Jessica and Rachel are the in-house experts, content creators, and podcast hosts at Harkla! To learn more about Jessica and Rachel, visit the Harkla About Us Page. Make sure to listen to their weekly podcast, All Things Sensory by Harkla for actionable, fun advice on child development.


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