Prenatal Life — The Development of the Nervous System
By: Madhuri Prasad
Tags: Newborn, Brain Development, Prenatal Life, Early Childhood Learning, Parenting

We had a family trip planned. When two days were left to fly, I realized that we haven’t gotten the currency conversion done. My husband was calmly handling it but I was frantic. And what did I do? I poured it all on my daughter and regretted all the time while screaming at her. And even more, later. Many a times we do things that may not seem right to us yet we do it when under stress. Have you experienced similar behaviours from you too? Believe it or not, it all starts from the time of conception. For example, the nausea from some food is the result of child’s response to the smell that he has developed. So what happens during pregnancy that influences a child’s life even as a grown up adult?

Let’s first understand the lifecycle of the baby during the prenatal life. The fetal nervous system (i.e. the baby’s brain, nerves and spinal cord) is one of the very first systems to develop. In the first couple of weeks the zygote [union of ovaries and sperm] is formed. Even before we know that we are pregnant, this tiny human being has a small heart to maintain its blood circulation that is shared with mother to receive oxygen and food to support life. After the two weeks, when the embryo is formed, also begins the formation of human brain which is divided in three parts now: forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain. Along with the brain, various parts of the body starts to rapidly build as well, with simultaneous development of the mental activity. So, what is the science behind this entire process?

Well, I was watching a talk ( https://bit.ly/3kg2U2D ) by David Christian, where he explains the science behind the evolution of life on earth. He says that life is created when the right amount of energy, diverse chemical elements and liquids come together. In the womb, the right amount of energy to the child is supplied from blood circulation for oxygen and food shared from the mother, chemical elements come from the food (vitamins & minerals) that the mother eats & finally the liquid is the amniotic fluid in the uterus in which the life or the fetus develops.

This implies that the mother’s eating & sleeping habits, her emotional stability & physical strength to withstand the birth, and the health of the uterus to support the pregnancy play a pivotal role in the development of the baby. Now I understand why my mother used to push me to read spiritual books, to have healthy eating and sleeping routine, and most importantly doing daily chores along with good amount of walking. That’s because all kinds of negative and positive factors experienced during the prenatal life influences the baby’s personality post birth till the end.

What is the role of the mother to support baby’s brain development then?

maintain a healthy diet — eat 1 1/2 times more than your normal diet. Try not to indulge in junk, canned or processed food.

follow the age old saying — ‘Early to bed and early to rise’. Lack of sleep can affect the brain growth of the baby.

avoid toxic habits such as — smoking and drinking.

do all the work normally as you did before but with a little bit care.

go for a walk or do some exercise regularly.

keep yourself mentally relaxed— read books, listen to music, meditate, etc.

contact your doctor as soon as you feel any kind of physical or mental discomfort.

try using the smart phone, laptops and other gadgets to the minimal — the signals that are produced by these devices are detrimental for the baby’s central nervous system.

Here, we must know that for the psychological development of the baby, the most essential factor is: the mother’s acceptance of the baby. You must talk and sing to your baby. Let the baby know he is taken care of. It boosts their emotional development.

In all this, the role of the partner and the extended family is also crucial. Their contribution in creating a loving, consistent and positive space for the mother will help her support the baby in every possible way. What do you say: are we in for this?!