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We’re all aware of the common advice that heads our way when it comes to having healthy babies. Some of this includes no tobacco and alcohol while pregnant, avoiding exposure to certain chemicals like lead, maintaining a healthy diet, and following an exercise regime at all costs. As parents, we want healthy and intelligent babies — it is normal to feel this way. We go above and beyond to take extraordinary measures during pregnancy to ensure that the baby is healthy.
But how many lesser-known facts do you know that can directly impact the child’s intellectual development? Being aware of certain facts is crucial and can be a game-changer. Doctors often pitch in important information which can work in favor of your pregnancy. From detecting a potential disease at an early stage to improving the overall health of both mother and child, a doctor is pretty much your lifeline. But there are a few things that your doctor has probably not discussed with you. Scroll below to find out what they are:
- Stress Can Significantly Impact Your Baby
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Stress, in moderation, is considered normal and even healthy. In fact, the stress in daily life helps with the development of the central nervous system. It challenges the brain and motivates you to get things done; it is also an evolutionary trait that directly links to survival (1).
However, too much stress can cause severe problems for you and your baby. A study was conducted by Johns Hopkins University on a group of pregnant women. These women were mentally and physically of optimal health. They observed the stress levels in each of the women and the changes that this caused during their pregnancy. When the children of these women were two years old, the researchers studied the children. They observed that the children whose mothers displayed moderate or low-stress levels when they were pregnant performed better physically and intellectually. On the other hand, the children whose mothers suffered from severe stress during their pregnancy were not as physically and intellectually advanced (2).
- Age Isn’t Just A Number
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Did you know that the parent’s age can impact the intellectual development of the child? A mutation is a common occurrence in genetics. On average, a newborn child will be born with close to seventy mutations, even though the parents won’t have these mutations. In most cases, mutations are carried forward to the child through the sperm, as opposed to the egg. Studies conclude that when the father is older, the number of mutations passed on to the child increases. Intellectual development and cognitive abilities are directly related to mutations. When the number of mutations is higher, it can negatively affect the child’s intellectual development. Having said that, the opposite is true for the mother. Studies have shown that children whose mothers are older tend to be more intellectually developed (3).
- Genetic Tests Are Important
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It is important to undergo genetic tests during the course of your pregnancy. These tests can tell you if your child has any genetic disorder. Most mothers undergo a common genetic test once they complete ten weeks of pregnancy, known as the Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing. This is a simple blood test, but it can tell you if your child might have genetic disorders such as Down’s or Edward’s Syndrome. Genetic testing during pregnancy can also tell you if you have a genetic disorder yourself, which you probably weren’t even aware of. With the help of genetic testing, you will know if your child will have that particular gene (4).
- Stress Too Can Be Passed On
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In one interesting finding, it was concluded that how stressed you are during the pregnancy can determine your child’s temper in the long run. Studies have shown that the fetus knows when the mother is stressed; in fact, a spike in the baby’s heart rate in the womb was observed. Researchers concluded that when the baby is under distress due to the mother’s response to stress, the child will be hyperactive in the future (5), (6).
We often look for different ways to boost the intellectual development of our children, even before they are born. Every choice you make during your pregnancy can directly or indirectly affect your baby’s development. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about your stress levels or if someone in your family has a genetic disorder. What do you think about these lesser-known facts? Let us know in the comments below.
