This is part of an article in the New Zealand herald, Sep’t. 26th – written by Kate Shuttleworth
“Improving the health of children and preventing child abuse begins even before pregnancy, the Prime Minister’s chief science adviser Sir Peter Gluckman has told Parliament’s Health Committee
He said the nutritional state of women before and during pregnancy also impacted on the brain development of their children.
“There is growing evidence that the health of offspring is influenced by the behaviours of women from before conception and through pregnancy and lactation.”
He said there was growing research being carried out on the benefits of women and their partners receiving preconception nutrition and lifestyle counselling.
Sir Peter said the family dynamics were partly to blame for poor nutrition because knowledge about raising children wasn’t being passed down from one generation to the next.
Sir Peter also told the select committee the “mood” of the mother during pregnancy also impacted on a baby’s health; particularly their brain development.
“A woman who is depressed during pregnancy will give birth to a baby with parts of their brains developed to different sizes and therefore a shorter attention span, difficulty learning and poor emotional development.”
Sir Peter spoke to the Health Committee on both improving the health of children, but was also asked to speak about child abuse.
He said child abuse had permanent effects on a child’s brain development and children subjected to abuse were more likely to abuse their own children.”
Why is it, that so often, New Zealand seem to be much more ‘aware’ than our own Governments? The above excerpt shows very important reasons why we should be growing, now only physically healthy babies but also emotionally healthy babies. This cannot occur without good education, the right doula support and eliminating women’s fears about pregnancy and birthing. Check out our upcoming hypnosis courses for birthing. It will change your view about birthing and you will leave feeling empowered.
