The Parenting Buzz : Chill Out, Mom!

Some recent articles from Britain remind pregnant women to breathe, relax and CHILL OUT!

Research published last month in the journal Clinical Endocrinology found that unborn babies were exposed to their mother’s stress hormones as early as 17 weeks into the pregnancy. The research indicates that the stress hormone, cortisol, most likely transfers across the placenta. The correlation between the level of cortisol in a mother’s blood and in the amniotic fluid only gets stronger as the pregnancy progresses.

Although further study is required to determine the exact effect of cortisol on a fetus, recent studies on animals have found that high levels of stress experienced by a mother during pregnancy can affect the baby’s behavior and brain function.

Researchers have tempered their findings with the following statement: “We do not wish to unduly worry pregnant women…” Too late, eggheads!

Not looking forward to the whole labor and delivery process? Worried it’ll be painful? Since stressing out in anticipation of the ordeal is out of the question (see above), why not try the newest trend in England – hypnotherapy. 

An article in Britain’s Telegraph walks you through a pre-natal course designed by clinical hypnotherapist Maggie Howell, called the Natal Hypnotherapy Birth Preparation Course. According to Howell, deep relaxation and effective breathing are key to reducing fear and tension, which in turn will cause a reduction in pain during labor and delivery. According to Howell, “labour is mind over matter.” And to prove her point, students are tested on their ability to engage mind over matter by being given a “Chinese burn” (twisting the forearm in opposite directions, causing pain by stretching the skin and sometimes leaving a mark) to see if they can maintain composure while being inflicted with pain. Nice and relaxing, right?

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