I recently read the book Origins: How the Nine Months Before Birth Shape the Rest of Our Lives written by Annie Murphy Paul. The idea of fetal origins is apparently a new-ish idea when it comes to the scientific community. Interestingly though, as Annie explores countless historical wives tales and age old beliefs they almost seem informed when it comes to this new science research. It might not be as new as we think...
The book focuses on the significance of our individual experience in the womb. The author travels to multiple cities and visits with experts and scientists and writes this excellent resource of a book. She proposes that each pregnancy is unique and that no "perfect" pregnancy exists to be aspired to. Overall, the womb appears to be a "critical staging period for both well-being and disease in later life".
For example, it has been long accepted in the medical community that diet and lifestyle are two leading factors in predicting and preventing major illness. However new research is revealing an equally important factor--our individual experience within the womb. The book describes how birth weight is strongly correlated with later vulnerability to heart disease and diabetes. Overall the lower the birth weight the higher risk of vulnerability to disease later in life. Equally weighted appears a higher birth weight with risks of obesity and other illness. Scientists really think that between 6 and 8 pounds birth weight is the "sweet spot" and babies born close to or on the smaller or larger side are effected as adults.
It sees that the womb is the first and foremost classroom where the mother is literally teaching and sharing with her baby.We are shown that babies are not really born blank--they are already richly shaped with information.
Another example being that babies seem to remember and prefer the foods and smells they were exposed to in utero and this sensitivity starts around seven months when the taste buds and olfactory systems are working. Researchers have actually found flavors and spices from foods eaten by the mother present in amniotic fluids and breast milk. It is believed that what the mother eats actually sends messages to the baby about culture and literally tells them "this is safe for you to eat. "
The book talks about the idea of how so many things actually go right in the womb--that the baby literally takes in this information and adjusts its development accordingly. It made me wonder how much babies are effected when their preparation and growth doesn't end up matching their external environment such as in the cases of adoption or babies who are in utero during a war but born during peace time. The more congruence between the two seems to predict the best success for babies.
I laughed when the author started talking about two phenomenons that happened in her household. One she called "Daddy Rage" and described how her normally calm husband could become so stressed and upset after fighting a losing battle assembling the crib or other baby gear that he would be lying on the floor in surrender to a stroller.
Annie visits a mental health therapist who described the journey that adults experience in becoming parents. The therapist parallels the process to that of adolescence and forming an identity. She explained that literally parents have to "let it all fall apart" in order to reassemble themselves in a new way. This really stuck out to me. It made me wonder if I can handle the falling apart. Probably not. Otherwise they would call it something else like "making a small adjustment" or who knows what. Of course the therapist also explains that there is a rebuilding and that the result of that rebuilding is often so much richer and stronger than when we began.
Now isn't that just lovely?
The rest of the book discusses fascinating facts about pregnancy and health. I can't even begin to put it all here! I especially liked how this book wasn't written exclusively for pregnant ladies and is not a "how to" book. You will learn about all the latest research regarding food and stress and alcohol and disease and determination of gender and more. Please tell me you'll check it out. (Or at least recommend it to all the pregnant ladies that you know!!)
The book focuses on the significance of our individual experience in the womb. The author travels to multiple cities and visits with experts and scientists and writes this excellent resource of a book. She proposes that each pregnancy is unique and that no "perfect" pregnancy exists to be aspired to. Overall, the womb appears to be a "critical staging period for both well-being and disease in later life".
For example, it has been long accepted in the medical community that diet and lifestyle are two leading factors in predicting and preventing major illness. However new research is revealing an equally important factor--our individual experience within the womb. The book describes how birth weight is strongly correlated with later vulnerability to heart disease and diabetes. Overall the lower the birth weight the higher risk of vulnerability to disease later in life. Equally weighted appears a higher birth weight with risks of obesity and other illness. Scientists really think that between 6 and 8 pounds birth weight is the "sweet spot" and babies born close to or on the smaller or larger side are effected as adults.
It sees that the womb is the first and foremost classroom where the mother is literally teaching and sharing with her baby.We are shown that babies are not really born blank--they are already richly shaped with information.
Another example being that babies seem to remember and prefer the foods and smells they were exposed to in utero and this sensitivity starts around seven months when the taste buds and olfactory systems are working. Researchers have actually found flavors and spices from foods eaten by the mother present in amniotic fluids and breast milk. It is believed that what the mother eats actually sends messages to the baby about culture and literally tells them "this is safe for you to eat. "
The book talks about the idea of how so many things actually go right in the womb--that the baby literally takes in this information and adjusts its development accordingly. It made me wonder how much babies are effected when their preparation and growth doesn't end up matching their external environment such as in the cases of adoption or babies who are in utero during a war but born during peace time. The more congruence between the two seems to predict the best success for babies.
I laughed when the author started talking about two phenomenons that happened in her household. One she called "Daddy Rage" and described how her normally calm husband could become so stressed and upset after fighting a losing battle assembling the crib or other baby gear that he would be lying on the floor in surrender to a stroller.
Annie visits a mental health therapist who described the journey that adults experience in becoming parents. The therapist parallels the process to that of adolescence and forming an identity. She explained that literally parents have to "let it all fall apart" in order to reassemble themselves in a new way. This really stuck out to me. It made me wonder if I can handle the falling apart. Probably not. Otherwise they would call it something else like "making a small adjustment" or who knows what. Of course the therapist also explains that there is a rebuilding and that the result of that rebuilding is often so much richer and stronger than when we began.
Now isn't that just lovely?
The rest of the book discusses fascinating facts about pregnancy and health. I can't even begin to put it all here! I especially liked how this book wasn't written exclusively for pregnant ladies and is not a "how to" book. You will learn about all the latest research regarding food and stress and alcohol and disease and determination of gender and more. Please tell me you'll check it out. (Or at least recommend it to all the pregnant ladies that you know!!)
This is fascinating! Thanks for sharing. I especially appreciate the reminder that parenthood is breaking & rebuilding me. No wonder it's so hard! =)
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