Saurabh Jain
May 31, 2007
Influence of music on the fetus during pregnancy period is being widely discussed these days. According to some gynecologists the fetus can receive vibrations during the latter part of the pregnancy. It can perceive the vibrations after the fourth month of pregnancy. Music may help in fetal growth, as during the advanced stages of pregnancy period, the reception of the fetus increases. The vibrations of music act as external stimuli and influence the environment surrounding the fetus. She can see, hear, and feel and that, of course, means she can rock to the beat! Other gynecologists suggest, any music that is soothing for the mother is also good for the baby. On the other hand, any music that disturbs the mother would also have similar effects on the baby during pregnancy.
Pregnancy: Mama Lets Play Some Music
When baby hears the soothing sounds of music through her mothers womb, first, it stimulates her ear, brain, and body to begin preparation for sound and language comprehension. Second, it lulls her into a calm, meditative state According to musicologists, rhythms, similar to the mother's heartbeat, have the most calming effect on babies in uterus in the pregnancy period. The classics are great, but most any music will do, as long as its calming. After she is born, play the same few songs for your baby that you played in your third trimester of pregnancy, and watch her remember the rhythms and feel soothed.
Listening to music works as an aid to relaxation to the expectant mother during pregnancy. This can help avoid pregnancy complications such as morning sickness, pregnancy heartburnand pregnancy high blood pressure. Any music or even prayers and chants from any religion, classical, Western or even Jazz will be fine provided the expectant mother enjoy listening to it. The music must be soothing and has to have a rhythmic pattern to it. It relaxes the mother-to-be and thus the growth and development of the fetus is enhanced.
According to a recent research, newborns are able to digest the sound of voices and even information they have heard during the final weeks of pregnancy. In an experiment, babies less than 2 days old could tell which sounds they preferred to hear. They showed sucking preference when known sounds were made. Many mothers have stated to the researcher that their newborn babies seemed to prefer the same type of music that was played during their later stages of pregnancy.
Although there is no data to prove that music could help in the growth of the baby during pregnancy and experts are still skeptical about any direct influence of music on the fetus, but it is also true that the baby can receive sounds from the fifth month onwards. In addition, children exposed to music before birth, develop an ear for it after they are born.
It is said that unborn babies listening to orchestral or classical music through their mothers womb during pregnancy period do better academically in future than the ones that do not. It's based on the premise that this type of music stimulates more parts of the brain simultaneously thus building better connectors and receptors to help in the future to retain and process information. So, be ready to play your favorite music, enjoy and let your baby enjoy the same through you.
Pregnancy is a blissful time and the mother should try to remain happy to avoid pregnancy complications like pregnancy morning sickness or pregnancy high blood pressure Music can help the mother to stay healthy and happy for a healthy pregnancy. Pregnancy Period provides all information that you need for a healthy pregnancy and to enjoy this glorious period of your life.

I found this article in the American Chronical

I saw this article in the Guardian Unlimited and thought it would be great for the site.

Children whose mothers smoked during their pregnancy are up to nine times more likely to develop attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, scientists say.
US researchers found smoking acts as a trigger for the disorder when children are already genetically predisposed to ADHD.
The dangers of smoking during pregnancy are well documented. But the links between smoking and ADHD have not been proven until now.
Symptoms of the disorder usually start early in a child's life. In the US the most recent study indicated that around 3.3% of children under 10 have ADHD and levels are believed to be similar here. The researchers found no relationships between alcohol during pregnancy and ADHD. The scientists contacted just over 5,000 families with twin children aged seven to 18 in Missouri. The parents were asked to complete questionnaires on their children's behaviour and their habits during pregnancy. More than 24% reported smoking during pregnancy, of whom more than 75% smoked during the entire pregnancy.
A significantly increased risk of ADHD was found in those who smoked. "The average number of ADHD symptoms was significantly higher in the offspring who were exposed to prenatal smoking," the study said. Rosalind Neuman, one of the authors, said: "When genetic factors are combined with prenatal cigarette smoke exposure, the ADHD risk rises very significantly."
John Krystal, editor of Biological Psychiatry in which the research will be published in June, added: "These data highlight a new risk of maternal smoking, increasing the risk for ADHD in their children. ADHD, in turn, increases the risk for substance abuse. Thus, it appears in utero exposure to nicotine may help to perpetuate a cycle across generations that links addiction and behavioural problems."
A separate study, published last night, reveals that smoking cannabis while pregnant affects the brain development of unborn babies. Scientists believe taking the drug could restrict naturally occurring compounds in the embryonic brain which join up nerves and promote foetal growth.
The research centres on compounds in the body called endocannabinoids. These act in the same way as cannabis by attaching to receptors found on the surface of nerve cells in the brain. If cannabis is smoked at the same time as these molecules are released, there can be a battle for the receptors. This can disrupt the network of nerves and their formation.
Researchers in Scotland, the US and Hungary have been involved in the year-long study, led by the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. Anne Rajnicek, lecturer at Aberdeen University's institute of medical sciences, said: "Although we did not test marijuana-derived compounds directly, our data suggest marijuana use during pregnancy could affect development of the foetal brain."

by: Jackson

 

In this article, my aim is to sensitize you about fitness, weight control and nutrition; make you aware of the health benefits in being fit, eating good food and doing regular exercises during pregnancy.
Sure, you may be aware that exercise brings about fitness, but do you willingly engage in exercise for fitness and healthy living? The benefits of exercise when you are pregnant are so huge, yet most women are disposed to abhor exercise routines at this critical stage of their lives, because of the age old myth that exercise is inimical to pregnancy.
The truth, however, is that exercise is beneficial for everyone including you, because it strengthens nerves and bones, regulates metabolism, ensures proper circulation of blood and nutrients to all the cells and tissues of the body, including the fetus .
Healthy Mothers, Safe Delivery And Healthy Babies
Fit pregnant women give birth, without delivery problems, to healthy babies. However, even though exercise is essential for fitness and good health, knowledge of suitable exercise is necessary because unhealthy exercise is counter productive.
Combination Of Good Food And Exercise
Good food is synonymous with good health only when complemented with regular healthy exercise, if not, weight gain becomes a risk, especially during pregnancy and afterwards. Conversely, eating right and exercising properly will ensure proper absorption of food nutrients, make you fit and able to control your weight gain rate during pregnancy and afterwards.
Expert Advice
You should be familiar with one type of exercise or the other, most of which you learnt in school and neglected, but the truth is that there are special exercise routines for different kinds of people, and today you can find online specific ebooks dealing with exercise regimen for children, old people, athletes, sick people, and pregnant women.
Recipe For Healthy Eating
Some of these ebooks combine both exercise regimen and healthy recipes that provide the level of nutrition for both you and your baby, because eating right during pregnancy will make you healthy. It is also essential for your baby?s growth and development.
Exercise, Nutrition and Pregnancy:
Your nutrition, fitness and weight control during pregnancy can not be over emphasized if you consider the need to ensure the safety of both yourself and child. So look for that informative ebook that covers everything from the daily vitamin and mineral intakes needed, and foods that actually help with your pregnancy discomforts.
Finally, it is only if you are fit that you can easily go through labor and give birth to a healthy baby without delivery problems. And with good food and exercise for weight control during pregnancy, you will also be able to lose your pregnancy pounds and revert to your pre-pregnancy shape a few weeks after you give birth to your healthy baby.