Prenatal Communication

Although many parents believe that education and communication only begins AFTER baby is born, there is a great deal of current research that may suggest otherwise. It has been found that external stimulation (such as stroking the unborn baby through the tummy) and playing soft and melodious music are pleasurable to the baby, and can in fact stimulate healthy foetal development.

The prenatal period (the time between conception and birth) is the critical time to establish the basic architecture of the brain and build the foundations for its future potential. Studies by leading child development researchers have revealed that stimulated babies show improved visual, auditory, linguistic and motor development. In general, they sleep better and are more confident, alert and content than infants who were not stimulated. They also show greater learning capacity and calm down when they hear familiar sounds they heard whilst in the womb.

Parents who take part in prenatal stimulation say that they develop a closer and stronger bond with their children.

Communication Tips

As soon as you learn that you are pregnant, you can start to stimulate and communicate with your unborn baby. Whilst it may seem a little awkward and strange to begin with, it will soon become as natural as your performing your normal, everyday routine. Try these following suggestions:

1. The Power of Touch

Expectant mothers often rub, pat or touch subconsciously throughout the day as a way of physically reaching out and communicating with their unborn baby.

• Try touching your belly in different ways and explain the difference of each touch to your baby; for example, patting, stroking, rubbing and so on.
• Make tummy-rubbing a frequent daily exercise; perhaps as you shower or whilst you are using an anti-stretch mark cream on your tummy. Why not even try patting your tummy in time to the music you are listening to?

2. Talk to Your Baby

One of the easiest ways to start communicating with your baby is to imagine that they are already with you. Treat your baby as a conscious being, and talk, sing or even hum to them. This will help them to become accustomed to your voice and start to recognise language formations.

3. Share Your Experiences

The prenatal experience is all about preparing your baby for life after birth. One of the ways to do this is by sharing your normal, everyday experiences with your baby. Show them your lifestyle and the world that they will be born into. Chat about your daily experiences to your baby no matter how mundane or ordinary it may seem to you.

4. Play Games

Why not try playing the 'Kick Game'? In this exercise, respond to your baby's kick by touching the spot that they just kicked, and saying "Kick, baby, kick!" Babies quickly learn to respond to this kind of attention: they will kick again and will soon learn to kick anywhere you touch.

5. Stay Calm and Relaxed

Maternal stress has a dir...