In the Womb Then Out The time comes in every woman’s life when she wonders what it would be like to have a child. During pregnancy the body changes and adapts to having a human growing inside of it. The mind goes through many thought processes and changes, as well. There are many things pregnant women can do to ensure they birth a strong healthy baby. Once the baby is born there are many activities mothers and father’s can do with their infant, toddler and adolescent to help ensure they grow into a strong minded individual.
The following will be some activities a psychoanalyst may suggest to both a 6 month pregnant woman as well as a post-partum mother, in regards to the healthy development of her child. During the six month of pregnancy the unborn child is nearly completely developed. The lungs are not fully developed nor is the digestive system. However, the baby can hear, taste and feel at this point (Berger, (2010)). There are several things a 6 month pregnant woman can do to help ensure the mental and physical well-being of her child. When mothers are pregnant recent research has shown that babies in the womb react to certain things.
Therefore, when a mother is stressed the baby may sense this. With that said, relaxing is very important for an expectant mother. This can be done by reading, watching television or perhaps taking a warm bath. If the mother is good at relaxing her baby may be able to help sooth itself without the parents coddling him/her too much. This could be considered a form of conditioning derived from the theory of Behaviorism (Berger, (2010)). Along with relaxing, mother’s can also play music for their babies and talk to their babies.
Mothers should also encourage one sided interaction from the father. These activities can stimulate brain activity with the child. When mothers and fathers talk to their unborn babies it can help the baby become familiar with their parents’ voices and help them gain a connection. These activities can be related to Erik Erikson’s first stage of his Psychosocial Theory known as Trust vs. Mistrust (Berger, (2010)). Even though developmental theories seem to be mostly based on after a baby is born the theories can still relate to the end of pregnancy.
However, once a baby is born there are many things that can be done to ensure a baby develops properly. Through reading, it has been said that it is important for mothers to have a lot of skin to skin contact with their newborns. This action can help develop a lasting relationship between mother and baby. This action can enable the infant to know he/she will be cared for through nourishment and love (Moore, 2010). This action is related to Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial Stage of development known as Trust vs. Mistrust.
This stage is mostly related to relationship building (Berger, 2010) A game that a mother may be encouraged to play with her child is any form a peek-a-boo. This activity can be related to Jean Piaget’s stage of Cognitive Development known as Sensorimotor, which occurs from birth to about the age of 2. This activity can help the infant learn that even if a person or object cannot be seen it still exists. At any stage of life parents are encouraged to be positive role models. However, according to Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial stage of development known as Initiative vs. Guilt.
Eventually, if children do not have positive role models they may begin to act out or do things that are related to something they have seen someone do. With that said, this stage focuses on the point that children’s actions are based upon what they watch their parents do (Berger, (2010)). Each stage of life has a theory or two that it can be related to. Keeping in mind that theories are not proven they are only organized explanations of unexplainable events. Individuals have spent their whole lives researching and drawing conclusions in an attempt to prove or disprove developmental theories.
Regardless of the age, rather unborn or born, children have amazing ways of learning. In the end, it is the parent’s responsibility to ensure their child a happy and healthy future. Once the child becomes an adult their actions may reflect rather or not they had good attentive parents. References Berger, K. S. (2010). Invitation to the Life Span. Retrieved from The Universtiy of Phoenix eBook Collection Moore, E. (2008). Early skin-to-skin contact for mothers and their healthy newborn infants. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (1), Retrieved from EBSCOhost.