Congratulations to the Carters and what a fabulous way for Beyoncé to announce her latest pregnancy: 'I have three heartbeats!', and that's not the only 'multiple' she will be experiencing over the coming months.
Babyopathy is all about you and your baby's sensory journey and for your baby this of course begins in the womb when all of your baby's senses first develop. One of the best sensory tools both mum and baby have to connect is touch, or more specifically the movements your baby makes in the womb and you will feel.
My focus for this campaign is all about those movements and the routine they develop over the pregnancy and how you can use their sensory world to nurture their wellbeing and routine for when they enter our world.
Routine during pregnancy is very rarely spoken about other than "is baby active" and maybe "when do you notice the most movement". If the answer to these questions is 'baby's movements keeps me awake all night' then it is more than likely your baby will be up all night and sleeping all day when they arrive. However, we can nurture that and work on a routine that is more conducive to 'day and night' and 'bedtime' when they arrive. That's in my next blog.
First though is the most important part of my 'Routine in the Womb' campaign, focusing on knowing your baby's routine, and in particular their pattern of movements, as it is this that you should be aware of and any subtle changes as this is how you follow your baby's well-being.
From the stunning images she posted, Beyoncé is heading towards approximately 24 weeks and as with most pregnancies this is when she will feel definite movements and kicks and those movements will start to strengthen and form a routine for baby Carters in the womb.
So why is this so important for Beyoncé and all pregnant mums?
The new recommended way to know your pregnancy is healthy and progressing is to become familiar with the baby's regular daily pattern of movements, hence our babyopathy campaign - The 'Routine in the womb'.
Learn your baby's usual routine in the womb, there will be certain times of the day (or night) that your baby will be more active and times when they will not seem to move at all and are most likely sleeping. If the routine that you know is usual for your baby changes suddenly then raise this with your midwife.
Having spoken to a number of midwives recently through my Mentor Mum duties they have stressed that they do not count the kicks any more. They focus purely on your baby's usual routine and any changes to that is what makes them take a closer look, or listen as they case may be!
This campaign links very closely to and supports my other babyopathy messages for mums when pregnant:
• Stress during pregnancy can have a direct effect on your baby through the cortisol you produce when stressed that passes through the womb to your baby. This can not only have a direct effect on their development (most importantly brain development in the womb and post-natal mental health well-being) but can also cause your baby to become distressed in the womb causing a change to their usual movement routine. Babyopathy provides mums with ways to help them deal with stress and find a routine that works for them.
• Routine in the womb - routine when born. The routine your baby has in the womb is pretty much the routine they will have when they are born. So if your baby keeps you up all night with movements you can expect a baby who is awake in the night once born. The routine that you follow can have an impact on the routine your baby develops as your baby's behavior is influenced by any hormones you may produce. If you are very active and even stressed in the evenings on your journey home or attending an exercise class, those hormones will be making your baby more active at night. Babyopathy provides mums with ways to nurture their baby's routine through their own routine using babyopathy influences such as music, meditation and aromatherapy etc.
• Reading, and in baby Carters' case I am sure love of music, begins in the womb - as baby's senses first come alive whilst in the womb so does the foundation for every avenue of development. By reading or playing music to your baby in the womb they will recognise the familiar voice, tones and patterns when they are born that not only provides a sense of security and well-being in an sensory overloaded world but will also be building on the foundation for language, literacy and music!
As always, I must stress that babies are all unique and whilst some may fall in to the routine you nurture straight away, others will not. Above all, do not get stressed and do not think you have 'failed' as you have not. You should use all of these tips as things to try to encourage and nurture your baby's own will and personality and eventually you will both get there. Individuality is a beautiful thing, embrace it and nurture that too!
So, join our campaign to spread the new message that will nurture babies through their sensory journey and support us using the hashtag #RoutineintheWomb and join our Facebook community at www.facebook.com/routineinthewomb