What is Prenatal Education System?

Every mother knows that her child’s physical development begins during the crucial prenatal months. Taking a prenatal vitamin to enrich a child’s nutritional environment is the standard-of-care for providing an optimal environment during a child’s earliest physical development. It is widely accepted that a child’s learning ability begins during those very same prenatal months. Educators, scientists, criminologists and physicians alike have long ago acknowledged the vital importance of a healthy and enriched prenatal environment as it pertains to the long term development and learning ability of a child. An age-appropriate prenatal curriculum strengthens a child’s ability to learn during the developmental period when the advantages will be most significant for the child.

In the prenatal months, the brain is at its most receptive stage of learning. The prenatal baby’s hearing is fully developed by the 18th week of pregnancy. Independent studies have demonstrated that, for the duration of the pregnancy, the baby can actually compare and contrast simple sounds. By encouraging this simple ‘auditory exercise’ during this crucial period, these studies have demonstrated that the child may realize significant long-term developmental benefits. Dr. Mark Pitzer, Ph.D. writes, “Research suggests that a child’s intellectual development is influenced equally by their inherited genetic blueprint and the early immediate environment.” This crucial early environment is not just the “0 to 3″ years of age that we hear so much about, but actually the “prenatal to 3″ years of age.

An expectant mother’s uterus is not a ‘soundproof booth’. The developing child can certainly hear many of the sounds and noises in his or her mother’s external environment. However, these sounds are fairly fleeting. The one true and consistent sound presented to the child naturally during those months is the mother’s heartbeat. For the duration of pregnancy, this is the natural language heard 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is a natural, simple, and repetitive sound. Therefore, in order to truly communicate with and encourage early comparative learning during the prenatal months, sounds similar to the mother’s heartbeat are the most developmentally appropriate.

What Are the Benefits of Prenatal Education System?

Parents and researchers alike have observed and measured the benefits associated with the BabyPlus Prenatal Education curriculum. Babies that have enjoyed this prenatal curriculum are born more relaxed and alert. Typically, their eyes and hands are open at birth. These infants are more responsive and interactive and are visibly ready to absorb and appreciate their environment. Parents report that these babies nurse more readily and self-soothe more easily.
Parents also report that, if their care giving skills are consistent, the regular sleep/wake cycle of their baby becomes quite consistent at an early age in the infant’s life. There is also documented scientific evidence that the immune system of an infant who sleeps well and sleeps regularly is actually stronger. Additionally, an obvious side benefit of a well-rested baby is a well-rested parent!

Babies that have benefited from prenatal learning are reported to reach early childhood milestones, such as the ability to point to body parts on command, walk and talk, etc. ahead of their peers. Utilizing such milestone assays as the Clinical and Linguistic Auditory Milestone Scale (CLAMS test) and the Vineland Social Maturity Scale (school readiness test), these children have shown an increased attention span and measurably improved school readiness. Parents have also reported that BabyPlus children exhibit greater creativity and independence. All of these traits result as a combination of both genetics and an enriching early environment. Strong
thinking children are more successful in school and in life. Prenatal Education System does not create a “genius baby” anymore than a prenatal vitamin creates a “bodybuilder.” The prenatal months of early development are simply the right time to strengthen the foundation for learning.

The above article are sponsored by BabyPlus®.

Click Here for more information on BabyPlus Prenatal Education System.

Other resources of Prenatal Education here.

Pregnant women can also be suffering from constipation when you are in later stage of pregnancy toward third trimester. The pressure of your fetus can also lead to bowel related problems. Thus loss of appetite and more re-intestinal disorders. In severe cases you may induced self-poisoning. The faeces did not discharged away from your stomach may cause harm to you and your fetues.

Constipation During Pregnancy

How to prevent constipation for Pregnant women?

(1) Release your feces regularly to develop good habits. Always listen to your body. Never put off going to the bathroom when you feel the urge.

(2) Pay attention to what you eat, food such as with high-fiber like cereals, whole-grain breads, fruits and vegetables are your choice of food to eat everyday.

(3) Exercise regularly like conducting some light exercises such as walking or yoga exercise to increased movement to your body. Certain yoga postures, increase of fluid intake, and dietary changes including increased fiber and fruit can increased bowel movements to shorten the time food through the intestine and thus  increase the volume of defecation.

(4) Drink lot of fluid like water. Prune juice is one of the most effective remedy for constipation. It has tons of fiber and moisture.

(5) Take honey
It is believed that the existence of honey having various healing properties as well as mild laxative properties. Honey can treat constipation. It is proven that raw honey can absorbs water in your body. As honey have the tendency to hold on to its water content it can keep the fecal matter moist and soft. When your stool soft so it can easily pass through the digestive system. In another way you can said that the properties of honey act as a lubricant and stimulates the bowels for passage of fecal material.

Prevent constipation during pregnancy

To prevent constipation during pregnancy and for all stated health benefits, be sure that your daily routine includes some form of exercise mention. This increases the blood flow throughout the body that ready to digest any food your body takes in. Remember to have high in fiber diet to limit constipation.

Abnormal Brain Development that lead to hearing impairment

A researchers from Yale University School of Medicine used diffusion tensor imaging technology to studies two groups of young people’s brains. The results showed that mother smoking during pregnancy or smoking in their adolescence are responsible for signal transmission to the ears of the brain. The researchers believe that this result shows that people in the adolescent stage of the brain are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of nicotine. The study also showed that mothers smoking during pregnancy and being smoking in their youth, more prone to hearing loss.

Let hear Dr. Kathryn J. Shaw talk about smoking and pregnancy.

What are some of the pregnancy complications associated with smoking cigarettes?

Some of the complications associated with cigarette smoking during pregnancy involve the foetal growth. Smoking has been shown to cause foetal growth restriction, meaning those foetuses will be smaller than they should be. Cigarette smoking is also associated with restriction of placental function, and as the placenta is the lifeline or the support for that foetus, cigarette smoking can cause impairment in placental function. Cigarette smoking also is associated with placental abruption, which is where the placenta is prematurely detached from the mother, and therefore that interferes with circulation to the foetus and can cause foetal death.

How will second-hand smoke exposure during pregnancy affect my baby?

Second-hand smoke during pregnancy is very detrimental to the developing fetus, and can result in similar problems as if the mother smoked herself. Those problems would include impairment of fetal growth. The toxic substances that the pregnant woman inhales by being around another smoker can also be detrimental, and can lead to other neurological problems for the fetus.

There are few things expecting mother should pay more attention to during pregnancy. They are

• Nutrition
• Regular Prenatal Care Checkup
• Enough Sleep
• Prenatal Exercise
• Maternity Clothes
• Personal Hygiene
• Changes to your skin
• Maintain Good Mood

Nutrition During Pregnancy

Pregnant women need to balance the food that they eat with a reasonable nutrition. You should eat mixture of food and to be choosy of food. Don’t over eat and don’t avoid eating completely. Base on your physical and weight have a focus diet and stick to it.

Regular Prenatal Care Checkup

Able to keep abreast of the fetus and your own physical condition, pregnant women must conduct a regular prenatal care checkup. From as early pregnancy, expecting mother should check once each month, every two weeks after 28 weeks of pregnancy and once weekly from 36 weeksuntil it time to give birth.

Enough Sleep

You must ensure that there is sufficient sleep time during pregnancy. Every night at least 8-9 hours of sleep. If conditions permit do take a afternoon nap for at least 1-2 hours. After the Second Trimester, while sleeping it is best lying on your side and not lying on your back.

Prenatal Exercise

During pregnancy,  every pregnant women should have an adequate prenatal exercise. Prenatal exercise can help you relax muscles and joints, reduce complication and have a smooth delivery.

Maternity Clothes

Pregnant women should avoid wearing tight pants, jeans and tight stockings. No high heels too. One should wear comfortably.

Personal Hygiene

Pregnant women prone to congestive gums, swelling and other symptoms of pain and bleeding. Therefore should adopt good oral hygiene habits. Brushing should use soft hair brush.

You will sweat more than usual. Frequent bath is necessary to maintain the cleanliness of the body. Make sure the water temperature should not be too high. Take note also that during pregnancy you will expect increase of genital secretions.  Genital secretions should be cleaned with warm water every day and maintain dry to reduce the incidence of vaginitis.

Changes to Your Skin

The skin is likely to become better than before such as have smooth skin. However, some pregnant women may find having dry or oily skin during pregnancy.

Maintain Good Mood

Pregnant women are easily emotional impulse, as far as possible to regulate your emotions and maintain a good mood. This is because the psychological state will be good for the fetus and it will provide a good growth environment. With the understanding and caring for your families, will give her a warm, happy atmosphere, good health and safety during pregnancy. On sexual life, in the first three months and weeks before labor should avoid sexual life. Other than that it’s alright but with appropriate posture, gentle action and with the wife willing. Do consult Doctor before having sex during pregnancy.

Watch Dr. Jay Goldberg on exercise during pregnancy

Transcript

What are recommended exercises during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, I don’t recommend that you change much. You want to keep your heart rate down, below about 15 beats per minute, and you can do so by getting one of those heart rate monitors. Sometimes a safe way to know that you’re exercising too much is if it’s hard for you to converse while you’re exercising. If you’re on the treadmill and you’re huffing and puffing, and someone asks you what time it is and you can’t spit that out, you’re probably pushing it a little too much. I usually say walking, hiking, jogging, using a treadmill or StairMaster, doing pilates or yoga, spinning, swimming; they’re all fine. You can do most anything when you’re pregnant; even run a marathon. Trying to keep your heart rate down is probably the most important thing. Now, that goes for a normal pregnancy. If you have complications at all, such as bleeding or threatening a miscarriage, if you’re later in the pregnancy and your cervix is shortened, or your doctor’s recommended bed rest, then there are going to be other recommendations. Obviously, you’ll cross those bridges when you get there.

What exercise precautions should I take if I’m pregnant?

Typically it’s probably not a good idea when pregnant to do exercises that involve contact. So, examples might be kickboxing or maybe basketball where you may take an incidental elbow to the gut. This is not a recommended exercise or activity that you’d participate in. But most other exercises are really not restricted.
At what point in my pregnancy should I stop exercising?

I don’t recommend you stop exercising in pregnancy unless told so by your doctor. If you’re having an uncomplicated pregnancy, you can go on long walks – treadmill or such, the day after your due date. My wife, as an example, is a big spinner, she would spin throughout her pregnancies to the point where her knees would hit her belly when she was on the spinning bike. She went for a spinning class about 3 days after my older son’s due date.

The above Transcript and video is from videojug.com

What should I write about on pregnancy diary?

Here are the list of things you can record down for future easy reference.

1. Your last menstrual period. Gynecologist can then judged and calculated your expecting delivery date.

2. The beginning and the end of your morning sickness, nausea, vomiting and anorexia to what extent.

3. The first time when you can feel your baby movements. Usually you can feet your baby movement in around the 16-18 weeks of pregnancy.

4. Records and preserved the test result examine by your gynecological.

5. All kinds of pregnancy complications encounter such as vaginal bleeding, lower limb swelling, dizziness, confusion, visual impairment, with the exception of timely treatment, should be recorded in the pregnancy diary.

6. Are you exposed to any radioactive material?

7. Your fetal movement situation. Generally your baby will move more than four times per hour. If less than 4 time, there a possibility that your fetal having hypoxia. Do consult your gynecological immediately.

8. When and what type illness during pregnancy. In particular if it is a virus infection, you should record down in more detailed.

9. As pregnant woman cannot take any type of medication. If you are under medication during pregnancy. Please include the drug name, dosage and the date you take. Consult your gynecological immediately of the medication.

10. Record down any sex activity during pregnancy. It is best to consult your doctor before having sex as it may cause abortion or may cause premature baby.

11. The date of prenatal care, abnormal fetal position, the fetal heart rate, blood pressure, weight, and so on.

Beside writing down important pregnancy related things mention above, expecting mother can also write about their experiences of their childbearing. Or write about your changing bodies, your fears of labor, childbirth, and parenting.

Let look take a closer insight of what will happen to you during the early stage of pregnancy.

In the early stage of pregnancy, your food diet should be light. As most of the pregnant women, during the 5-6 weeks appear to have symptom of nausea and vomiting while eating. Loss of appetite is a common reaction during the first  few weeks of pregnancy. Generally at most in three months this symptom will naturally reduce or disappear. Pregnant women at this stage should try to eat light food for easy digestion. Avoid oily foods, no alcohol and caffeine drinks.

Expecting mother Examine Your Eating Habits

During the early stages of pregnancy, there is a tendency of incurring excessive weight gain. Expecting mother should examine their eating habits and change your eating habits accordingly. Stop eating food that are salty, deep-frying food, sweets. These foods are likely to cause excessive weight gain. Pregnant woman must find ways to improve and overcome your cravings for this type of food.

During the second trimester

During the second trimester pregnancy you can consider taking some simple exercise activities, exercise movement is of great help to pregnant women. It helps to reduce pregnancy related discomfort and lowering the chance of having to have a cesarean. But you must avoid rapid exercise, avoid lifting heavy weights.

What are the type of nutrition food intake during the second trimester

During the second trimester, your appetite will improve and will eat more. This is the time you will incur excessive weight gain. This is the time you need to take note of the food intake. At this stage expecting mother should avoid eating too much fried, greasy food and sweets to prevent excessive weight gain.  Pay more attention on foods with iron-rich such as liver and beef, to prevent iron deficiency anemia.

You may encounter frequent leg cramps. This may be due to calcium deficiency. Your pregnancy diet meal should include high-calcium foods such as milk, soybean products and so on.

During the third trimester

Beside your normal three nutrition meal intake, take note of food that you take between (tea break). It is necessary to strictly control yourself and avoid excessive food intake on food contain starch and high-fat food such as cakes, any other type of desserts. You are encourage to eat fruits, cup of milk or just a small whole wheat bread. Avoid all junk food.

What are the type of nutrition food intake during the third trimester

Pregnant woman should ensure quality of meals intake with different food variety. During the final three months, at this stage, your fetal with growth faster than other trimester. Your baby’s nutritional needs will increase and you may be more risk of developing nutritional deficiencies. At this stage you have to make sure that the food you eat is nutritious.

Food including sources of calcium and B vitamins in your diet becomes very important and reduce salt intake.

Some good sources of vitamins B6 and B12 are:

* Brown rice
* Baked potato (with skin)
* Bananas, prune juice, carrot juice
* Nuts (and peanut butter, for those who like its taste)
* Eggs and dairy products

Some good sources of calcium are:

* Dairy products such as Yoghurt
* Soyabean and tofu
* Almonds and other nuts
* Sesame seeds

Remember at every stage of pregnancy, the main focus nutrition food intake must include Folic Acid, vegetables and fruits. At every stage of pregnancy needs eat according to what is needed. Take note of what incur excessive weight gain to you. Watch and change your eating habits. Stop eating salty, deep-frying food, sweets that likely to cause excessive weight gain. Pregnant woman must find ways to improve and overcome your cravings, seek profession help when needed.

So how much weight gain during pregnancy is normal so as not to increase excessive weight gain and also not to reduce nutrition intake during pregnancy?

To determine the amount of weight gain during pregnancy is depend on the weight of the woman before pregnancy. And what is the ideal weight during the nine month pregnancy can be calculated by measuring BMI (body weight index) before getting pregnant. As nutritionists said that pregnant women should gain weight in accordance with their own body weight index.

How to calculate BMI?

BMI (body weight index) is calculated by the person body weight (kg as a unit) divided by height (meters units) of the square. For example, if the weight is 50 kilograms, is 1.65 m in height, then the BMI = 50 ÷ 1.65 ÷ 1.65 = 18.36. The body weight index is 18.36. Normal women’s BMI is 20 to 26.

Different stages of trimester during pregnancy, will have different weight gain.

We would recommend to normal pregnant women in the first trimester (1-3 months) monthly increase in weight should be around 0.5 kg. Some pregnant women because of pregnancy reaction, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, weight loss will appear in this situation. You do not have to worry too much for in the second trimester (4-6 months), your weight should increase to 0.25-0.35 kg per week. During pregnancy in the second trimester, a total of about four kilograms in increase in weight. Subsequently in the latter part of pregnancy, the weight will increase 0.5 kilograms per week. And in the final three months, a total of weight gain about six kilograms.

The risk of excessive weight gain.

If you are are obese or overweight before pregnant, without proper weight control during pregnancy, the risk of eclampsia occurred will be higher than the average pregnant woman. Excessive weight gain during pregnancy will easily lead to hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, urinary tract infections, diabetes, kidney disease. In addition you may not give birth naturally.

Take note of the BMI weight categories of weight gain.

If your weight is too light when your BMI less than 18.5, 11-18kg. Most Obstetrics and Gynecology Medical Association believes that BMI less than 19.5, consider the weight was too light. The normal weight for pregnant woman should be around BMI 19.5-24, 11-13 kg, the maximum weight is up to 16 kg. Other then that are consider overweight.