Prenatal Education

What can you do for your baby?

The Basics

Dr Brewer bases her super baby program on the scientific evidence that up to 75 per cent of brain cells are lost in the prenatal period, most in the eighth month and as a result of no stimulation. Super Baby follows 4 key points in the prenatal period to prevent this loss;

	Womb environment – providing a stimulating environment
	Diet – a healthy diet for healthy brain cell development
	Relaxation – avoiding stress to improve oxygen and nutrients to your baby
	Pollution – avoiding exposure to toxins

Womb environment

Brewer draws on research from fellow doctors such as Logan and Van de Carr to demonstrate the importance of sound and touch on your developing baby. She says, "The process of learning can be said to have occurred when your baby is exposed to a particular stimulus in the womb and his behaviour changes, or adapts, so it is different to that of a baby who was not exposed to the same stimulus."

To enrich your baby's womb environment she suggests the following;

Dr Brewer bases her super baby program on the scientific evidence that up to 75 per cent of brain cells are lost in the prenatal period, most in the eighth month and as a result of no stimulation. Super Baby follows 4 key points in the prenatal period to prevent this loss;

	Music – She encourages the use of music, which she says improves spatial awareness and numerical abilities in your baby.
	Voice – use words, stories, and songs.
	Touch – using rhythmic movements, pat, stroke and rock your bump so your baby is stimulated by the touch.
	Light – babies have been seen on ultrasound to respond to light with interest so Brewer recommends flashing a torch on and off 3 or 4 times on your abdomen.

Diet

Dr Brewer says a good diet is essential even before your baby is conceived so that from the moment of conception there will be the necessary nutrients, vitamins and minerals to promote the initial rapid production of brain cells.

A good diet during pregnancy is also important for your baby's developing brain. Dr Brewer says, "Three quarters o your baby's total energy needs at birth result from the workings of his brain and peripheral nervous system." She suggests the following should be included in your diet;

	Essential Fatty Acids – these make up 20 per cent of the brain and are important for the structure and development of your baby's brain.
	Garlic – improves blood flow through the placenta and stimulates your baby's senses.
	Fresh fruit and vegetables – providing essential minerals, vitamins and fibre.
	Calcium rich foods – for healthy teeth and bones.

She also suggests avoiding high processed food, sweets, and refined sugars, as well as foods that can cause infections such as soft cheeses.

Relaxation

	Exercise done gently improves circulation so more nutrients and oxygen can pass to your baby and the vibrations your baby feels can stimulate his brain cells.
	Stopping work no later than 30 weeks allows you time to rest which is vital for your growing baby.
	Being stressed can lead your baby having increased sensitivity to the effects of the stress hormone and it is thought this can lead to behaviorral problems in your baby.
	Resting allows your body to relax which helps oxygen and nutrients move more freely to your baby.

Pollution

	Smoking reduces the oxygen your baby receives by up to 20 per cent and babies born to smoking mothers have an IQ on average 10-15 points lower.
	Alcohol can enter your baby through your placenta but his liver cannot break it down in the way yours does. Alcohol can cause the neurons in your baby's brain to die as well as reduce the activity between brain cells.
	Environmental pollutants can cross the placenta and reach your baby risking poor responsiveness and memory loss.

The Super Baby Program is based on scientific studies and research to help you provide the optimum prenatal period for your baby and can be used alone or alongside any of the other prenatal stimulation programs.