Letter To A Mother-To-Be
Guest Blog By Glenys Hicks, Wife, Mother, and Grandmother from Australia
Congratulations on the impending arrival of your child!
Since I had my last baby 28 years ago, there have been a lot of studies regarding the world of the unborn and how we can influence it. It has been found that an unborn child can hear quite well from about 23 weeks gestation and that what it hears can influence its thoughts and reactions- even after birth! These days it is not considered silly to talk to your unborn child or to play music or even to read to it! In light of my observations of my grandchildren when they were first born, I think that this is true. How else does one account for the fact that a crying newborn can immediately recognize its own mother's or father's voice and stop crying?
I have experienced this myself with my grandson, Mitchell. He was born by caesarean section and I was present in the operating theatre (his father didn't make it in time). As his Mother had a general anaesthetic, she was of course unable to hold him or talk to him. He was born screaming and inconsolable! The nurses cleaned him up and cut his cord and then placed him in my arms! I said to him, "Hello, Nanna's little boy!" and immediately he opened his eyes and stopped crying! It was awesome and my heart just burst with love for him!
Why did he recognize my voice? His mother had had a very problematic pregnancy and I had cared for her through the entire 9 months. With permission, I had laid hands on his mom's stomach and prayed for him. I had talked to him on a daily basis and encouraged his mom to as well. She had not bonded with my first grandchild and I tried to encourage her with the beauty of pregnancy and to bond with this child before he was born. It worked- she mothered him well.
Our children have a spirit before birth as we find in Luke 1:39-45 where the pregnant Mary visited Elizabeth and the sixth month fetus, John the Baptist, leapt in her womb when he heard Mary's salutation! I believe that we can minister to our unborn children by praying for them whilst in utero, playing worship music, reading the Word or having the Word played.
As the brain records memories from before birth, I believe that a love for the LORD and His Word and worship can be fostered from pre-natal days. In one study conducted, new mothers were asked if they watched a particular soap opera throughout their pregnancy. Those that did were asked to join in a simple experiment. When their babies were fussy, their mothers played the theme song of that soap opera. Without fail, all the babies settled!
If worldly things can influence our unborn children, what a wonderful opportunity we have in instilling a love for the things of God in them right from the womb. I believe it starts in the womb. Science tells us the unborn do respond to outside stimuli and I have experienced it with Mitchell. What a wonderful start to a new life!
Since I had my last baby 28 years ago, there have been a lot of studies regarding the world of the unborn and how we can influence it. It has been found that an unborn child can hear quite well from about 23 weeks gestation and that what it hears can influence its thoughts and reactions- even after birth! These days it is not considered silly to talk to your unborn child or to play music or even to read to it! In light of my observations of my grandchildren when they were first born, I think that this is true. How else does one account for the fact that a crying newborn can immediately recognize its own mother's or father's voice and stop crying?
I have experienced this myself with my grandson, Mitchell. He was born by caesarean section and I was present in the operating theatre (his father didn't make it in time). As his Mother had a general anaesthetic, she was of course unable to hold him or talk to him. He was born screaming and inconsolable! The nurses cleaned him up and cut his cord and then placed him in my arms! I said to him, "Hello, Nanna's little boy!" and immediately he opened his eyes and stopped crying! It was awesome and my heart just burst with love for him!
Why did he recognize my voice? His mother had had a very problematic pregnancy and I had cared for her through the entire 9 months. With permission, I had laid hands on his mom's stomach and prayed for him. I had talked to him on a daily basis and encouraged his mom to as well. She had not bonded with my first grandchild and I tried to encourage her with the beauty of pregnancy and to bond with this child before he was born. It worked- she mothered him well.
Our children have a spirit before birth as we find in Luke 1:39-45 where the pregnant Mary visited Elizabeth and the sixth month fetus, John the Baptist, leapt in her womb when he heard Mary's salutation! I believe that we can minister to our unborn children by praying for them whilst in utero, playing worship music, reading the Word or having the Word played.
As the brain records memories from before birth, I believe that a love for the LORD and His Word and worship can be fostered from pre-natal days. In one study conducted, new mothers were asked if they watched a particular soap opera throughout their pregnancy. Those that did were asked to join in a simple experiment. When their babies were fussy, their mothers played the theme song of that soap opera. Without fail, all the babies settled!
If worldly things can influence our unborn children, what a wonderful opportunity we have in instilling a love for the things of God in them right from the womb. I believe it starts in the womb. Science tells us the unborn do respond to outside stimuli and I have experienced it with Mitchell. What a wonderful start to a new life!
© Glenys Robyn Hicks - Visit her new blog.
Note from Crystal: I'd love to hear words of advice and wisdom you other mothers would like to share if you were writing a letter to a first-time mother-to-be. I know we have a few blog readers who are just that, and other young mothers like me could benefit from your wisdom as well.
Note from Crystal: I'd love to hear words of advice and wisdom you other mothers would like to share if you were writing a letter to a first-time mother-to-be. I know we have a few blog readers who are just that, and other young mothers like me could benefit from your wisdom as well.
posted by Crystal Paine at 9:31 AM
4 Comments:
That was such a sweet post. We often forget that our little ones can hear and need nurturing even in the womb.
I don't know that I would have any advice for a new mom, considering I'm not an old hand at it or anything. I do have two lovely little girls though. I would say that you shouldn't be afraid or embarrased to get down on the floor with them and make them laugh. They grow up all too fast and who wants to let that child-like freedom slip away. I need to take my own advice :-)
This post was great! I just LOVE Glenys's blog!
This is so encouraging and challenging! Thanks, Glenys! Other moms - please do share ideas for those of us who are going through pregnancy the first time. How can we start mothering our children well, even now?
Thanks for this info! I am a Senior at a Christian school, and am doing a speech for my finals on "The Influence A Mother Has On The Home And Her Children" This was such a big help!
I plan to get married in the fall, and when the Lord gives me children, I want to influence them right!
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