My#Baby’s#Brain# -...

My Baby’s Brain

www.hertfordshire.gov.uk

… in the antenatal

period

Guidance for professionals 1 •  My Baby’s Brain – Antenatal (MBB-‐AN) is a one-‐ off programme for

parents-‐to-‐be aiming to:

–  provide informa>on about baby’s development in the womb,

–  share what we know about learning before birth, par>cularly from recent research

–  encourage and support bonding during pregnancy and explain why this is important

–  provide guidance about stress, diet and exercise in pregnancy

–  provide a forum for parents-‐to-‐be to share knowledge, increase their understanding of their babies development before birth and be able draw on your professional support and guidance.

Guidance for professionals 2

•  The ultimate aim of MBB-AN is to encourage bonding and attachment and nurture the

social and emotional wellbeing of the baby.

•  This Powerpoint presentation (which includes a number of videos) will provide the structure of the programme. Your professional guidance will flesh out the structure, enable the programme to be tailored to the audience, and encourage interaction.

•  Three ‘breaks’ have been built into the programme so that parents have the opportunity to consider what’s been said in the programme and discuss it further.

•  There is support for you through these additional pages which do not show on the parent version. Blue heading = section for professionals only. You can access the hyperlinks by highlighting them, right click, open hyperlink.

•  Additional support is available in reference notes.


•  Where possible MBB-AN follows the principles of MBB/Five to Thrive and we have incorporated links to these.

•  When you play the Powerpoint slideshow you will need to ‘click’ to get to the

next page and also to get some of the text up. This allows for you to provide some input if you wish, or just gives the parents the opportunity to read things more thoroughly.

•  Videos are embedded in the programme and simply need to be activated by

clicking on the on arrow. Before the first showing it is a good idea to do a run through to check that the correct cables are linked and that sound, etc. is at a suitable level.

•  While the slides are fairly self-explanatory, your professional advice and MBB training will add significantly to the outcomes and perception of the programme. Where things may not be self-explanatory, notes are offered as guidance.

Healthy development

and social & emo>onal

well-‐being

1.Brain development in the womb

2. Bonding & aKachment

4. Diet & nutri>on

3. Looking aPer

yourself, keeping

stress-‐free www.hertfordshire.gov.uk

What supports healthy development and social and emo9onal well-‐being?


What’s happening now with your baby’s brain?

•  Your baby’s brain is developing rapidly with nerve cells (neurons) being created in large numbers and forming various parts of the brain. §  3-4 weeks – primitive brain and spinal cord. Neurons produced at a rate of more than

250,000 per minute. §  9-12 weeks – nervous system, organs and muscles start to become organised and

connected §  24 weeks – most neurons present by now. Eyes and ears are sensitive. §  25-38 weeks – brain continues to develop and grow with connections being made

between neurons.

•  Our development – including brain development - is influenced by both our genes and our ‘environment’: nature AND nurture. The ‘environment’ can mean Mum, Dad, grandparents, the physical environment, diet, etc.

My Baby’s Brain


The development of neural connec>ons by birth and beyond

What does research tell us?


Research shows that babies in the womb respond to the outside environment and maternal stimulation – they’re already preparing for the outside world! How do we know that …

Babies in the womb appear to pick up on,

and imitate, the melody of their mother’s native

language.

From birth babies cry with an ‘accent’!

Researchers found that newborn French babies cry on a rising note while German

babies end on a falling note - echoing the melodies of the

two different languages.

Smell and taste are already developing

and babies experience the

flavours that Mum is eating – they seem to remember these and

can show a preference for them

after birth.

It’s thought that in this way they develop an understanding of what’s safe to eat

and, perhaps, even a cultural awareness

Newborn babies often copy adult’s

expressions – for example, opening and

closing the mouth.

Now researchers have found that

babies in the womb open and close their mouths when their Mum is saying lah, lah, lah in a nursery rhyme! (But not luh,

luh, luh!)

Babies in the womb

appear to ‘settle down’ when Mum

reads to them.


“What happens in the womb can last a life>me” (Video from hKp://www.beginbeforebirth.org/for-‐schools/films#womb – ViveKe Glover)

www.beginbeforebirth.org


•  Neurons are the cells that carry messages all over the body, to and from muscles, and which enable us to think, plan, do things and retain memories. The messages are carried along the axons of the neuron to the next neuron (or muscle, etc). A bundle of axons is known as a nerve or neural tract.

•  The following two links provide a good basic background to

neurons if you want more informa>on. hKps://askabiologist.asu.edu/neuron-‐anatomy hKp://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/anatomy/brain/Neuron.shtml


•  For more informa>on about learning in the womb there is a TED talk online that is very accessible (with downloadable text too): hKps://www.ted.com/talks/annie_murphy_paul_what_we_learn_before_we_re_born


•  In the video Professor Robert Winston talks about ‘gene expression’. A separate sheet is aKached containing some basic informa>on for you on genes, gene expression and a rela>vely new area of research, epigene>cs. This is just to give you some background and so that you might feel more comfortable if parents as about the term.

•  There is more on epigene>cs and how our environment (parents, diet, surroundings, etc.) can affect us before and aPer birth on the Begin Before Birth web pages. The following two pages are recommended, one of which includes an interes>ng video on how diet in the womb (in mice) can affect the outcome of the pregnancy.

•  hKp://www.beginbeforebirth.org/in-‐the-‐womb/fetal-‐programming •  hKp://www.beginbeforebirth.org/the-‐science/epigene>cs

My Baby’s Brain


Take a break – discuss what you’ve seen … for example: •  What is a neuron?

•  Do you find that baby can taste the food you’re ea>ng? – how do you know?

My Baby’s Brain


Bonding &

Attachment

What is bonding? And what about aKachment?


Bonding – feeling close to your baby, physically and emotionally through touch and cuddling, talking, playing, relaxing and responding. You can do this during pregnancy as well as when your baby arrives.

Attachment – a process by which a baby will seek safety and security with his mother (or main carer) where the quality of the interaction provides a sense of protection, comfort and security that enables the child to grow and explore his world in safety. This can be disrupted if the interaction is not of good quality and can have long-term effects.

WHY IS BONDING IN PREGNANCY A GOOD IDEA?


•  How you are feeling in pregnancy about your baby can help with maternal-‐infant bonding aPer birth.

•  Research suggests feeling close to baby in the antenatal

period can improve postnatal wellbeing •  It gives you the opportunity to start to think about baby’s

feelings and how they affect behaviour •  The acts of bonding help to prepare baby for the outside

world – the role of loving interac>on – bonding, responding …


Mums talking about the bonding process …


Bonding is not just for Mums though …


Bonding with your baby in the antenatal period

– how could you do that?


Nes>ng is good! Thinking about your baby and how you’re going to respond to his or her needs.

Respond to your baby’s kicking – with talking, stroking.


Daydream about your baby – it’s fine to daydream a bit. Think about what you think she or he might inherit from you or your partner or even from grandparents.

Sit quietly, calmly and meditate, with your focus on the baby.


Play music to your baby – but remember their hearing is very

sensi>ve.

Sing to your baby.


Read to your baby.


Talk to your bump/baby – tell him/her what’s happening in the world, how you feel, how excited (or how worried) you are about their arrival, about other people in the family, etc.

And more ways to bond …


Keep a video diary perhaps of your thoughts and hopes, and of how you’re growing in size (mothers only!). You can look forward to showing it to your child when he or she is older.

Talk about your baby to others -‐ to your partner, family and friends.

Write your baby a leKer – tell him or her how you’re feeling, what’s going on in the world, your dreams and hopes for them and, as a family, your excitement, etc. Think about reading it to him or her when he or she is older.

My Baby’s Brain


Take a break – discuss what you’ve seen … for example: •  Does anyone have other ideas for bonding while baby’s in the

womb?

•  What is bonding? Is bonding watching the TV with your little one? Is it popping the baby in the playpen?

•  We mentioned worries in the previous slide – are there any that you are happy to share? (There’s guidance later on for support with any worries)


•  The following sec>on provides the opportunity to discuss stress, exercise and diet/nutri>on.

•  It also provides the opportunity for you, as the professional, to tell parents about any local ac>vi>es that are available, e.g. if there’s an aqua-‐natal class nearby, yoga in pregnancy.


Stress and prenatal development

•  When you are stressed you release a hormone called cortisol. •  Researchers have found that cortisol can have both positive and

negative effects in pregnancy. At normal levels it can help you prepare for motherhood by keeping you alert and attentive. In high levels it can affect your health and the baby’s development.

•  Important: Although a mother’s stress, anxiety and depression

during pregnancy can have long-term negative outcomes, it doesn’t affect every baby - research suggests it’s around 15% mothers and babies. And, for those 15%, a negative outcome is not definite, it simply increases the risk.

•  Try to keep stressful situations to a minimum, listen to your body and

take time to rest and relax


Looking aGer you – looking aGer your baby! (1)

Managing stress •  Rest, be ‘mindful’, be kind to yourself

•  Try to deal with worries or problems rather than having them ‘nag’ away

•  Work out what’s important, and what really doesn’t matter •  Social support is very important – look to partners, family, friends.

•  Socialising with other mothers/mothers-to-be can be supportive.



Keeping fit •  Keeping fit is positive for both you and your baby – choose activities

that can provide regular and moderate exercise, for example, walking, swimming or cycling.

•  Avoid strenuous exercise and activities that might put the baby at risk, e.g. judo.

•  Look out for local activities aimed at pregnant women, e.g. yoga,

aquanatal, etc.

•  Try to get enough sleep – not always easy particularly in the later stages of pregnancy.



Healthy Eating

•  Eat healthily – it all helps with good foetal development and with maintaining your health. Research shows that diet can impact on how babies develop, both in the womb and later in life.

•  Advice on healthy eating in pregnancy (and foods to avoid) is available on the NHS Choices website (address on MBB-AN leaflet)

•  Check with your health professional (e.g. midwife, health visitor or Children’s Centre staff) to make sure you’re getting all the vitamins and minerals needed in pregnancy, e.g. folic acid, iron (particularly for mothers with diabetes).

•  Healthy Start vitamins are available free for mothers in Hertfordshire – at Children’s Centres.


And … don’t worry!

•  ENJOY the >me gelng to know your baby before she or he arrives

•  DON’T WORRY if you don’t feel that you’re ‘bonding’ with your baby, bonding doesn’t come naturally to everyone at the same >me, but ...

•  KEEP TRYING though, it’s all good for developing

baby’s brain and wellbeing

•  And try to get plenty of rest …

My Baby’s Brain


Pause – take a break – discuss what you’ve seen … for example, •  Does anyone have a way of de-‐stressing that works and

that they’re happy to share?

•  How easy is it to eat a healthy diet? Does anything stand in the way of that? What could you do to change that?

•  What exercise could you get locally?


Later, when baby arrives …

Now’s the >me to develop the bonding that occurred in pregnancy and to encourage aKachment, based on research findings. •  Skin to skin contact – with Mum or partner -‐ encourages the release of the

hormone oxytocin. This hormone helps to promote bonding. Research suggests that babies exposed to skin-‐to-‐skin contact may cry less …. And babies like to be cuddled!

•  Eye contact – make eye contact with your baby. New-‐born babies like and

recognise faces. In par>cular, they like you to look at them directly. It is thought that this very early preference is likely to be associated with, and support, later social development.

•  Mother’s voice – new-‐born babies show a preference for their mother’s voices, and it is thought that this is to encourage early bonding.


Five to Thrive

… respond, cuddle, relax, play, talk


Sources of support

•  If you have any concerns about your pregnancy or how you are feeling, do contact a source of support such as:

•  Your midwife

•  Your Health Visitor

•  IAPT wellbeing services (see NHS website)

•  Local chari>es

•  Children’s centre


Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the following people and organisa>ons for their permission to include video clips from their websites:

Films from www.your-‐baby.org.uk (Angela Underdown and Jane Barlow, University of Warwick) Film from www.beginbeforebirth.org (courtesy of ViveKe Glover, Imperial College, London)

My Baby’s Brain


My Baby’s Brain – AnteNatal

Programme developed for Childhood Support Services, Hertfordshire County Council

by Dr Avril Nash and Professor Sally Kendall University of Hertfordshire and University of Kent

incorporating the ‘Five to Thrive’ messages, Respond, Cuddle, Relax, Play, Talk, courtesy of Kate Cairns Associates.

My Baby’s Brain


And to finish here is a video on My Baby’s Brain and Five to Thrive support for baby’s emo>onal wellbeing produced by Childhood Support Services at Heroordshire County Council (available on Youtube)

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