Abstract:
Brain maturation begins in a strictly programmed way, in the first month of embryonic development in utero, between the 19 and 28 days. In the fifth week after conception, the first synapses begin forming in the foetus’s spinal cord. The synapses, which will define the baby's intellectual potential, unfortunately receive little stimulation in utero. If we put more of strain on the brain, the number of synapses increases. In addition, with the very rapid development of the brain, several sensory functions are already available to receive information. Numerous reports indicate that babies in utero recognize and memorize emotions and may be conscious.
From the 7th week of pregnancy, the vibrations of the music or the various sounds perceived give the child his first real emotions. Low pitches are transmitted better through the hearing from weeks 19–20. The foetus is more sensitive to low sounds, and between the fifth and eighth month of pregnancy, has the opportunity to remember them. Music is therefore an essential pillar of development that allows the baby to awaken and to develop its intellectual capacities. Since the foetus associates sounds and emotions and memorizes them it is important to stimulate them by all means. Thus, the more the brain is stimulated, the more the connections between neurons persist.
It’s also known that it reacts emotionally to the touch of any area of the mother's skin, but also through the emotional state of the mother herself. Touch is the first sense that develops in the foetus, long before hearing. Some touch receptors appear as early as the 4th week of pregnancy. The foetus is capable of feeling its mother's emotions, whether they are positive or negative.
The baby can be stimulated from the first weeks of pregnancy, either directly or indirectly. Directly by songs (especially by the voices of men) and music. It is known that the foetus has different reactions depending on the type of music. For example, it calms down with Mozart, and becomes agitated while listening to rock music. Haptonomy is a technique that focuses primarily on touch and offers future parents the opportunity to get in touch with their baby in utero. Touching and caressing are very important for developing attachment and a sense of security in the baby. The physical presence of his parents stimulates his immune and hormonal system.
Indirectly, by proposing certain physical or intellectual activities, according to her abilities and possibilities, but more complicated or difficult, that require additional mental effort. Also, through reading books, but more difficult than usual, leading to strengthening of her attention, as well as through observation of special events that occur around her. The type of stimulation should be individualized. Beyond intellectual stimulation, the effectiveness of stimulating baby's senses in utero remains the best way to give him the feeling of well-being and serenity. By developing the child’s cognitive abilities, it significantly increases his/her IQ.
Therefore, intellectual stimulation should be included in maternal care programs already in the first months of pregnancy and should be a fundamental problem of states and international organizations in the field of human health and “well-being of MAN”, as well as in education (WHO, UNESCO, and UNICEF).
