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capitalise on the findings of quantum physics that connect energy and thought. In fact, these modalities that reprogram previously learned behaviours can be collectively referred to as "energy psychology"—a burgeoning field based on the New Biology. But how much easier it would be to be nurtured from the begin- ning of life so that we can reach our genetic and creative poten- tial. How much better to become a conscious parent so that our children and their children will be conscious parents, making reprogramming unnecessary and making for a happier, more peaceful planet! capitalise on the findings of quantum physics that connect energy Mothers and fathers are in the conception and pregnancy busi- and thought. In fact, these modalities that reprogram previously ness together, even though it is the mother who carries the child in learned behaviours can be collectively referred to as "energy her womb. What the father does profoundly affects the mother, psychology"—a burgeoning field based on the New Biology. which in turn affects the developing child. For example, if the But how much easier it would be to be nurtured from the begin- father leaves and the mother starts questioning her own ability to ning of life so that we can reach our genetic and creative poten- survive, his leaving profoundly changes the interaction between tial. How much better to become a conscious parent so that our _ the mother and the unborn baby. Similarly, societal factors, such children and their children will be conscious parents, making as lack of employment, housing and healthcare or endless wars reprogramming unnecessary and making for a happier, more that pull fathers into the military, can affect the parents and thus peaceful planet! the developing child. The essence of conscious parenting is that both mothers and fathers have important responsibilities for fos- A Twinkle In Your Parents’ Eyes: Conscious Conception tering healthy, intelligent, productive and joy-filled children. We and Conscious Pregnancy surely cannot blame ourselves nor our parents for failures in our You all know the expression, "When you own or our children's lives. Science has kept were only a twinkle in your parents' eyes"—a our attention focused on the notion of genetic phrase that conjures up the happiness of lov- determinism, leaving us ignorant about the ing parents who truly want to conceive a . influence beliefs have on our lives and, more child. It turns out it is also a phrase that sums Parents act as genetic importantly, how our behaviours and attitudes up the latest genetic research suggesting that i i program the lives of our children. parents should cultivate that twinkle in the engineers for their Most obstetricians are also still uneducated months before they conceive a child. That children in the months about the importance of parental attitudes in growth-promoting awareness and intention before conception. the development of the baby. According to can produce a smarter, healthier and happier the notion of genetic determinism that they baby. A were steeped in as medical students, foetal Research reveals that parents act as genetic In the final stages of egg development is mechanically controlled by engineers for their children in the months and sperm maturation, genes, with little additional contribution from before conception. In the final stages of egg a process called the mother. Consequently, ob-gyns are only and sperm maturation, a process called a ~ . Aer concerned with a few maternal prenatal "genomic imprinting" adjusts the activity genomic imprinting issues: Is she eating well? Taking vita- 0 specific sroups of genes that wil adjusts the activity of mins? Does she exercise regularly? shape the character of the child yet to be see ose questions focus on what they conceived. (Surani, 2001; Reik and specific groups of genes believe is the mother's principal role: the Walter, 2001) ; : that will shape the provision of nutrients to be used by the shares umge hate eoe PI character of the child Svs manned tts, Bh rocess of genomic imprinting has a pro- yet to be conceived. nutrients from the mother's blood. Along found influence on the mind and body of with nutrients, the foetus absorbs excess their child—a scary thought, given how glucose if the mother is diabetic, and unprepared most people are to have a excess cortisol and other fight or flight aby. Verny writes in Pre-Parenting: hormones if the mother is chronically Nurturing Your Child from Conception: stressed. Research now offers insights "It makes a difference whether we are into how the system works. If a mother conceived in love, haste or hate, and whether a mother wants to be is under stress, she activates her HPA [Hypothalmic-Pituitary- regnant...parents do better when they live in a calm and stable Adrenal] axis, which provides fight or flight responses in a threat- environment, free of addictions and supported by family and ening environment. friends." (Verny, 2002) Interestingly, aboriginal cultures have Stress hormones prepare the body to engage in a protection recognised the influence of the conception environment for mil- response. Once these maternal signals enter the foetal blood- lennia. Prior to conceiving a child, couples ceremonially purify stream, they affect the same target tissues and organs in the foetus their minds and bodies. as they did in the mother. In stressful environments, foetal blood An impressive body of research is documenting how important _ preferentially flows to the muscles and hindbrain, providing nutri- arents' attitudes are in the development of the foetus, once the tional requirements needed by the arms and legs and by the region child is conceived. Again Verny writes: "In fact, the great weight of the brain responsible for life-saving reflex behaviour. In sup- of the scientific evidence that has emerged over the last decade porting the function of the protection-related systems, blood flow demands that we re-evaluate the mental and emotional abilities of is shunted from the viscera organs and stress hormones suppress unborn children. Awake or asleep, the studies show, they [unborn forebrain function. The development of foetal tissue and organs children] are constantly tuned in to their mother's every action, is proportional to both the amount of blood they receive and the thought and feeling. From the moment of conception, the experi- function they provide. ence in the womb shapes the brain and lays the groundwork for When passing through the placenta, the hormones of a mother personality, emotional temperament, and the power of higher experiencing chronic stress will profoundly alter the distribution thought." of blood flow in her foetus and change the character of her devel- Now is the time to stress that the New Biology is not a return to oping child's physiology. (Lesage et al., 2004; Christensen, 2000; the old days of blaming mothers for every ailment that medicine —_ Arnsten, 1998; Leutwyler, 1998; Sapolsky, 1997; Sandman et al., didn't understand, from schizophrenia to autism. 1994) Parents act as genetic engineers for their children in the months NEXUS + 31 before conception. yet to be conceived. FEBRUARY — MARCH 2006 www.nexusmagazine.com