1. Is it better to start prenatal education early?
Some couples, when they find out they are going to be parents, immediately decide to do prenatal education for their baby. However, starting prenatal education too early not only has no effect, but it may also affect the baby's growth and development.
Truth: The activity of the brain, nervous system, and senses is the basis of psychological activity, and physiological development directly influences and restricts the process of fetal psychological development. Scientific research has shown that the basic structure of the brain can only be formed at around 6 or 7 months of gestation, and by around 8 months, it exhibits the same electroencephalogram as a newborn. The cerebral cortex has developed its own specific functions, directing the activities of the fetus's organs involved in hearing, smelling, and vocalizing, and it has continuity and preliminary rhythm, making it possible to implement corresponding regular education for the fetus. Research on fetuses has confirmed that auditory memory begins to develop in the late stages of fetal development (around 8 months). Therefore, the best time for prenatal education is after 8 months of gestation (32 weeks).
The majority of the time, the fetus spends in sleep, which is also the way for the fetus to grow and develop rapidly. Conducting prenatal education when the baby does not have enough cognitive and memory abilities is not meaningful and may disturb the fetus's sleep and hinder their growth and development.
2. Can prenatal education be done anytime, anywhere?
The majority of the fetus's time is spent in sleep, so in order to not disturb the baby's sleep as much as possible, the implementation of prenatal education should follow the rules of the fetus's physiological and psychological development and cannot be done arbitrarily.
Truth: Firstly, prenatal education should be done at the right time and in the right amount. It is important to observe and understand the fetus's activity patterns and choose to do prenatal education when the fetus is awake, with each session not exceeding 20 minutes. Secondly, prenatal education should be done regularly. It is important to have a scheduled time for prenatal education every day, which helps the fetus develop a habit of regular life and also lays the foundation for later recognition and the development of other cognitive abilities. Thirdly, prenatal education should involve emotional bonding. During the teaching process, the mother should focus her attention, be fully engaged, and experience it together with the fetus, establishing the initial parent-child relationship.
A good environment is more beneficial to the fetus's growth and development than external stimuli. And for the fetus, a good environment is a mother with a happy mood and adequate nutrition, which is the most primitive and powerful form of prenatal education for the baby.
