Pre and perinatal psychology

The latest research in the relatively new field of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology, that encompasses findings from a variety of sciences including Epigenetics, biology, neurobiology and psychology, tell us what Mothers and midwifes have intuitively known for centuries; that babies are conscious in the womb and that what the Mother experiences during her pregnancy and birth does have an impact on her developing baby.

The womb is the first place we begin to learn what life is like. What the mother experiences nutritionally, emotionally, mentally and psychically, the baby experiences. Of course we are all born with our own innate personality traits so not every child will respond to the same situation exactly the same. However, what the science does tell us is that the child’s brain, health, emotional intelligence, psychology, and social behaviours are shaped by the maternal experience. The baby is responding not only to the Mother’s nutrient levels and developing a capacity or not for health, but also to her thoughts and emotions. Science has now linked obesity, heart disease, cancer and diabetes to the baby’s womb experience, level of toxins ingested by the Mother, nutrition and emotional state.

The blocks I talk about on this website in relation to hindering our expression of love can begin in the womb and from our birth, particularly from traumatic experiences. As Thomas Verny explains in his book The Art and Science of Parenting from Conception to Infancy, there are three channels of communication between Mother and baby that exist from the moment of conception, and it is through her that her child is learning about the outside world. When all channels are active, he says, the baby receives the full message like stereophonic sound. The umbilical communication occurs through the three following channels:

1. Molecular Communication Through the umbilical cord maternal molecules of emotion including stress hormones such as adrenaline and noradrenaline, neurohormones, and sex hormones reach the child. These emotion molecules are just as real as fat or protein molecules and the baby is just as much a part of her body as her heart and liver are.
2. Sensory CommunicationTalking, singing, walking, running, patting her stomach and music are all forms of sensory communication. The baby is constantly responding with movement and kicking in response to her sensory communication. If you take the time to listen to your baby, and become attuned to the movements of your baby, you will start to get a sense of what kind of sensory communication your baby likes.
3. Intuitive CommunicationIntuitive communication is occurring between those close to us all of the time. We might think of someone, and then they call. Or, you might get a feeling that a family member is not well, and call them to discover they are ill. This communication exists between two people who are not physically connected. Is it surprising then to discover that intuitive communication exists between mother and child? They are physically connected for nine months. There is no deeper bond one can have with another person. A mother may receive intuitive communication from her baby in her dreams, or just get a sense of how her baby is doing. The more tuned in to your baby you are, the better you will be able to hear your baby’s messages.

Through these three channels, the child is learning either that world is safe place, or that it is not. If the mother has experienced a relaxed, calm and loving pregnancy and a natural, undisturbed gentle birth, the child learns that it is a safe and loving world. Their brain is wired for more intelligence and the child is able to completely be themselves. A child born to a mother who experienced a stressful, violent, traumatic pregnancy and birth will have different brain wiring. The brain is wired with a larger mammalian brain and is prepared to have to defend itself, as the message during the womb was that the world is not a safe place.

Through our womb and birth experiences, life-long patterns are created and are stored in the unconscious. It is the unconscious mind which controls our behaviours and responses to events in our life. Psychology talks about how our childhood experiences shape who we are as an adult. Birth psychology now tells us that it goes back earlier than childhood, to the womb. I have worked with many clients now whose issues stem back to the prenatal time. Any pattern can be healed through the specific type of therapy I use with my clients.

In conclusion, the baby’s foundation for physical, mental, emotional and social health is being laid via the mother’s experiences. Parents thinking of conceiving need to be aware of this in order to be conscious parents and give their child the best possible start in life. My work in birth psychology can help you with any of the following issues:

• Healing limiting patterns created during your own birth
• Healing birth trauma: the birth of your child
• Achieving a natural conception – having trouble conceiving despite no medical reason
• IVF support and counselling
• Clearing your cobwebs before you conceive – healing yourself to pass on the best of yourself to your child
• Prenatal counselling
• Gentle birth preparation – Hypnobirthing®
• Clearing life long patterns and blocks

Please read the testimonials below to get an idea of the various patterns which can be created in the womb and then continued through life. These patterns contribute to the emotional and psychological conditioning which can suppress our true self and potential.