Sept. 20, 2024
Prenatal Influences on the Development of the Child in the Womb
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Powers Within, Chapter II Power of Thought, pp. 22-23 This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/09/16/prenatal-influences-on-the-development-of-the-child-in-the-womb/
Video presentations, interviews and podcast episodes are all available on the YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@santoshkrinsky871
More information about Sri Aurobindo can be found at www.aurobindo.net
The US editions and links to e-book editions of Sri Aurobindo’s writings can be found at Lotus Press www.lotuspress.com
1
00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:04,920
We recognize nowadays that
actions of the mother impact the
2
00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:08,320
fetus in the womb.
Certain things impact the
3
00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:12,680
physical development, including
certain drugs or alcohol.
4
00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:17,920
Some drugs may cause physical
deformities, others may impact
5
00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:21,800
the brain and nervous system.
What is less frequently
6
00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:25,640
acknowledged, however, is the
psychological impact of the
7
00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:30,240
mother's experiences, thoughts,
and surroundings on the
8
00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:34,600
development of the unborn child.
If the mother is exposed to
9
00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:39,400
circumstances that raise up fear
or anger or other strong
10
00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:43,480
reactions, various chemical
reactions take place.
11
00:00:44,480 --> 00:00:48,680
Neurotransmitter chemicals are
dumped into her bloodstream and
12
00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:53,480
hormones are released.
It is a known fact that certain
13
00:00:53,480 --> 00:00:56,840
of these neurotransmitters and
hormones pass across the
14
00:00:56,840 --> 00:01:01,200
placenta and enter the child's
developmental environment,
15
00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:07,560
similarly exposing the mother to
influences of beauty, harmony.
16
00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:13,400
Positive emotions also trigger
release of neurotransmitters and
17
00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:18,320
hormones and thus can also
support the development of the
18
00:01:18,320 --> 00:01:21,760
child.
The growing child begins to
19
00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:25,240
respond to the voice of its
mother as well as ambient
20
00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:27,040
sounds.
At a certain stage in the
21
00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:30,400
pregnancy.
The subtle influences of a
22
00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:36,080
positive environment can enhance
the development, just as certain
23
00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:39,400
influences can harm the
development of the budding
24
00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:46,080
child, the mother notes Quote to
bear a child and construct his
25
00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:48,840
body almost subconsciously is
not enough.
26
00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:53,120
The work really commences when,
by the power of thought and
27
00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:58,000
will, we conceive and create a
character capable of manifesting
28
00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:01,360
an ideal.
And do not say that we have no
29
00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:03,480
power for realizing such a
thing.
30
00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:07,560
Innumerable instances of this
very effective power could be
31
00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:11,760
brought out as proofs.
First of all, the effect of
32
00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:15,360
physical environment was
recognized and studied long ago.
33
00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:20,760
It is by surrounding women with
forms of art and beauty that,
34
00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:24,920
little by little, the ancient
Greeks created the exceptionally
35
00:02:24,920 --> 00:02:30,080
harmonious race that they were.
Individual instances of the same
36
00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:33,760
fact are numerous.
It is not rare to see a woman
37
00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:37,800
who, while pregnant, had looked
at and constantly admired a
38
00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:42,680
beautiful picture or statue
giving birth to a child after
39
00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:46,080
the perfect likeness of this
picture or statue.
40
00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:49,720
I met several of these instances
myself.
41
00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:54,360
Among them I remember very
clearly 2 little girls.
42
00:02:54,880 --> 00:02:58,760
They were twins and perfectly
beautiful, but the most
43
00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:02,720
astonishing was how little like
their parents they were.
44
00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:06,600
They reminded me of a very
famous picture painted by the
45
00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:10,640
English artist Reynolds.
One day I made this remark to
46
00:03:10,640 --> 00:03:13,640
the mother, who immediately
exclaimed.
47
00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:18,080
Indeed, is it not so?
You will be interested to know
48
00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:22,560
that while I was expecting these
children, I had hanging above my
49
00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:27,880
bed a very good reproduction of
Reynolds picture before going to
50
00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:31,400
sleep.
And as soon as I woke, my last
51
00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:35,760
and first glance was for that
picture, and in my heart I hoped
52
00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:39,360
may my children be like the
faces in this picture.
53
00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:43,440
You see that I succeeded quite
well.
54
00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:49,360
In truth, she could be proud of
her success, and her example is
55
00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:51,440
of great utility for other
women.
56
00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:55,800
But if we can obtain such
results on the physical plane,
57
00:03:55,800 --> 00:04:00,120
where the materials are the
least plastic, how much more so
58
00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:03,840
on the psychological plane,
where the influence of thought
59
00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:09,040
and will is so powerful?
Why accept the obscure bonds of
60
00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:13,400
heredity and atavism, which are
nothing else than subconscious
61
00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:18,279
preferences for our own trend of
character, when we can, by
62
00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:22,640
concentration and will, call
into being a type constructed
63
00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:26,120
according to the highest ideal
we are able to conceive?
64
00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:31,080
With this effort, maternity
becomes truly precious and
65
00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:35,360
sacred indeed.
With this we enter the glorious
66
00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:40,120
work of the Spirit, and
womanhood rises above animality
67
00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:44,840
and its ordinary instincts
towards real humanity and its
68
00:04:44,840 --> 00:04:47,320
powers.
End Quote.
69
00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:53,880
Reference Srioro Bindo and the
Mother powers within, Chapter 2.
70
00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:57,760
Power of Thought, pages 22 to
23.
00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:04,920
We recognize nowadays that
actions of the mother impact the
2
00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:08,320
fetus in the womb.
Certain things impact the
3
00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:12,680
physical development, including
certain drugs or alcohol.
4
00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:17,920
Some drugs may cause physical
deformities, others may impact
5
00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:21,800
the brain and nervous system.
What is less frequently
6
00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:25,640
acknowledged, however, is the
psychological impact of the
7
00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:30,240
mother's experiences, thoughts,
and surroundings on the
8
00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:34,600
development of the unborn child.
If the mother is exposed to
9
00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:39,400
circumstances that raise up fear
or anger or other strong
10
00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:43,480
reactions, various chemical
reactions take place.
11
00:00:44,480 --> 00:00:48,680
Neurotransmitter chemicals are
dumped into her bloodstream and
12
00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:53,480
hormones are released.
It is a known fact that certain
13
00:00:53,480 --> 00:00:56,840
of these neurotransmitters and
hormones pass across the
14
00:00:56,840 --> 00:01:01,200
placenta and enter the child's
developmental environment,
15
00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:07,560
similarly exposing the mother to
influences of beauty, harmony.
16
00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:13,400
Positive emotions also trigger
release of neurotransmitters and
17
00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:18,320
hormones and thus can also
support the development of the
18
00:01:18,320 --> 00:01:21,760
child.
The growing child begins to
19
00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:25,240
respond to the voice of its
mother as well as ambient
20
00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:27,040
sounds.
At a certain stage in the
21
00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:30,400
pregnancy.
The subtle influences of a
22
00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:36,080
positive environment can enhance
the development, just as certain
23
00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:39,400
influences can harm the
development of the budding
24
00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:46,080
child, the mother notes Quote to
bear a child and construct his
25
00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:48,840
body almost subconsciously is
not enough.
26
00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:53,120
The work really commences when,
by the power of thought and
27
00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:58,000
will, we conceive and create a
character capable of manifesting
28
00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:01,360
an ideal.
And do not say that we have no
29
00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:03,480
power for realizing such a
thing.
30
00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:07,560
Innumerable instances of this
very effective power could be
31
00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:11,760
brought out as proofs.
First of all, the effect of
32
00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:15,360
physical environment was
recognized and studied long ago.
33
00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:20,760
It is by surrounding women with
forms of art and beauty that,
34
00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:24,920
little by little, the ancient
Greeks created the exceptionally
35
00:02:24,920 --> 00:02:30,080
harmonious race that they were.
Individual instances of the same
36
00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:33,760
fact are numerous.
It is not rare to see a woman
37
00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:37,800
who, while pregnant, had looked
at and constantly admired a
38
00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:42,680
beautiful picture or statue
giving birth to a child after
39
00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:46,080
the perfect likeness of this
picture or statue.
40
00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:49,720
I met several of these instances
myself.
41
00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:54,360
Among them I remember very
clearly 2 little girls.
42
00:02:54,880 --> 00:02:58,760
They were twins and perfectly
beautiful, but the most
43
00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:02,720
astonishing was how little like
their parents they were.
44
00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:06,600
They reminded me of a very
famous picture painted by the
45
00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:10,640
English artist Reynolds.
One day I made this remark to
46
00:03:10,640 --> 00:03:13,640
the mother, who immediately
exclaimed.
47
00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:18,080
Indeed, is it not so?
You will be interested to know
48
00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:22,560
that while I was expecting these
children, I had hanging above my
49
00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:27,880
bed a very good reproduction of
Reynolds picture before going to
50
00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:31,400
sleep.
And as soon as I woke, my last
51
00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:35,760
and first glance was for that
picture, and in my heart I hoped
52
00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:39,360
may my children be like the
faces in this picture.
53
00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:43,440
You see that I succeeded quite
well.
54
00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:49,360
In truth, she could be proud of
her success, and her example is
55
00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:51,440
of great utility for other
women.
56
00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:55,800
But if we can obtain such
results on the physical plane,
57
00:03:55,800 --> 00:04:00,120
where the materials are the
least plastic, how much more so
58
00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:03,840
on the psychological plane,
where the influence of thought
59
00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:09,040
and will is so powerful?
Why accept the obscure bonds of
60
00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:13,400
heredity and atavism, which are
nothing else than subconscious
61
00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:18,279
preferences for our own trend of
character, when we can, by
62
00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:22,640
concentration and will, call
into being a type constructed
63
00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:26,120
according to the highest ideal
we are able to conceive?
64
00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:31,080
With this effort, maternity
becomes truly precious and
65
00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:35,360
sacred indeed.
With this we enter the glorious
66
00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:40,120
work of the Spirit, and
womanhood rises above animality
67
00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:44,840
and its ordinary instincts
towards real humanity and its
68
00:04:44,840 --> 00:04:47,320
powers.
End Quote.
69
00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:53,880
Reference Srioro Bindo and the
Mother powers within, Chapter 2.
70
00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:57,760
Power of Thought, pages 22 to
23.