Many years ago, pregnant women just did what was natural with little thought to nutrition or outside influences.  When prenatal vitamins were first suggested, I'm sure that women were thinking that it was a fad, a scam or a money making scheme.  Doctors didn't know about how folic acid impacted a developing baby.  Now we know how essential it is during pregnancy and what birth defects it can prevent.  However, I should point out that folic acid does not guarantee the prevention of birth defects but increases the odds they will prevented.

Today, taking a prenatal vitamin isn't given a second thought and is strongly encouraged for many reasons learned over the years.  Why wouldn't using a prenatal curriculum be the same?  We are learning more and more about the prenatal environment every day.

It is safe to assume that influencing a baby's cognitive development during fetal stages can be one such factor.  The realization that learning in the womb actually takes place and that learning begins before birth is giving way to prenatal education in mainstream ideas. 

The brain is a complex organ and scientists only know a fraction about it and its functions.  To push aside an idea is a little premature.  Using a prenatal curriculum during pregnancy has so many great benefits.  BabyPlus doesn't guarantee a genius baby, a perfect sleeper or a highly gifted child, but it does increase the odds of strengthening the cognitive blueprint.

Biggest Loser star Alison Sweeney used BabyPlus with both of her pregnancies.  We were thrilled to be featured in the February, 2009 issue of Pregnancy Magazine as a co-sponsor of Alison Sweeney's Beverly Hills baby shower.

According to the article, Alison is a "big fan of the BabyPlus Prenatal Education System."  And, why wouldn't she be?  The idea of prenatal education is becoming more and more mainstream.  Learning in the womb is not new.  Impacting early brain development during your pregnancy is profoundly possible.  Using the mother's heartbeat sounds during the critical period in prenatal development will benefit your baby for a lifetime.  Alison Sweeney knows this - and now you do, too!

Click on the BabyPlus logo to go to our website to learn more about our patented prenatal learning curriculum.

The time to make the impact is now!

You will not have a chance again to impact your baby's development in such a profound way.  We know so much about the prenatal environment, so we must do everything we can to make sure our developing baby has all the opportunities available to her.

Most people believe pregnancy lasts a long time.  Well, I believe time flies when you are trying to create this wonderful little person.  We say many times a day that providing our beneficial curriculum of a mother's heartbeat during fetal development is crucial.

Take the time to visit our website and learn more about learning in the womb, why the mother's heartbeat sounds are significant, and early brain development.

Using BabyPlus during the prenatal period enhances cognitive development.  The news seems to be buzzing right now about the fact that mothers should take omega-3 fatty acid during pregnancy for "brain development."  We are all saying the same thing!

First, what exactly are omega-3s?  With a small amount of research I was able to learn that they are fatty acids that are good for you.  Your body can't produce them, so you need to get them another way.  How can we get omega-3s into our diet?  Most articles mention flax seeds, walnuts, beans, some fish (such as salmon), olive oil  - even cod liver oil! (Please remember to first check with your health care provider to see what what he or she thinks.)

According to an archived article at webmd.com, "researchers found that infants born to mothers with higher blood levels of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) at delivery had advanced levels of attention spans well into their second year of life. During the first six months of life, these infants were two months ahead of those babies whose mothers had lower DHA levels."  (two months ahead!)



You can read a great article about omega-3's and pregnancy at pregnancy-info.com by clicking on their picture to the left.



Or, go to www.dha.com  - "a dedicated resource for new and expectant mothers, healthcare professionals and media, which focuses on two vital nutrients for a baby’s development: DHA omega-3 and AA omega-6."

The importance of the prenatal period has never been more clear - your baby is impacted for a lifetime by your choices now.  This is a critical time in the development of your child.  Remember to be well-balanced and not to overdo anything!

Rev Your Child’s Brain Power With Rhythms - Part 2

(written by Marcia Ellett, June, 2009)



Nadine Gaab, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Children’s Hospital in Boston, said in a recent USA Today article that babies can “learn about rhythm from hearing music in the womb, feeling the rhythm of a mother’s movements or listening to her heartbeat.”

And Daniel Levlin, author of This is Your Brain on Music, confirms “the auditory system of the fetus is fully functional about twenty weeks after conception.”



So whether babies are born with an innate understanding of rhythm or not, you can help them along. Exactly what can you do to stimulate early learning and a lifetime of music appreciation in your children? Here are a few suggestions:

• Use the BabyPlus curriculum while you’re expecting to introduce your baby to the sequential learning process through rhythm.
• Expose your little bundle of joy to music before and after he or she arrives. Levlin said from birth to age five is the opportune time to develop your child’s communication skills and musical aptitude. Exposing them to a variety of melodies and rhythms can also enhance your child’s listening skills.
• Consider enrolling your child in a weekly pre-school music program where they can experience the joy of having fun with music and song. They won’t even know they’re working on their brainpower.
• As they get older, nurture any interest they show in playing a musical instrument. There is strong evidence to suggest that students who play musical instruments tend to get better grades in core subjects such as math, science, reading and language arts, and they do better on standardized tests too.

Click on the BabyPlus logo below to go directly to the BabyPlus site to learn more about using the patented curriculum of heartbeat sounds while pregnant to benefit your baby for life!

Rev Your Child’s Brain Power With Rhythms - Part 1

(written by Marcia Ellett, June, 2009)



Research on babies, such as a recent study through the University of Amsterdam that measured brain activity of a group of infants in response to a pattern of drum beats, continues to mount evidence suggesting that your little tykes can follow and understand rhythms much as adults do.

If you think about it, rhythms are basic to almost every form of communication, including conversation, making them vital to childhood development and necessary for rearing the well-adjusted little ones you know and love.

That’s where you, as parents, come in.....

Exposing your children early and often to music and other forms of rhythm can have a positive and permanent effect on the inner workings of their noggins.

Translation: You will sharpen their senses and give them an intellectual edge when it comes to navigating life’s road from infancy through higher education and beyond.

Learn more about BabyPlus at www.babyplus.com.

More testing of BabyPlus using exciting new technology could be on the horizon...

It has just been announced that new, noninvasive electroencephalographic (EEG) technology for better interpreting the brain's electrical activity will become available in 18 months . . . a further safe way to detect important advantages between BabyPlus newborns and the norm.

This noninvasive approach--with even one BabyPlus infant and another not experiencing an enhanced sonic environment (with the use of the heartbeat curriculum) before birth--should reveal the extent to which certain areas in the brain are affected, as well as how rapidly they react to such input.

Since its 1988 pilot study BabyPlus has undergone highly successful evaluations for effectiveness, among them an independent 1999 clinical trial contrasting it with music played prenatally and a control group; these results appear on www.babyplus.com.  Another controlled, comparative study will soon begin through Indiana University and Clarian Hospital.

As science continues to improve analytical tools which complement skills testing for BabyPlus infants and children, these outcomes will appear in the major media and be posted on www.babyplus.com. 



Brent Logan, Director
Prenatal Institute  

BabyPlus is all about learning!  We repeatedly comment that a pregnant mom doesn't take a prenatal vitamin to produce a bodybuilder. 

The same is true for our simple yet effective curriculum of using a mother's heartbeat sounds to positively impact your child for a lifetime of learning.

I found a great website that talks about prenatal learning.  Those at brillbaby.com are "passionate believers in the benefits of early learning." Click on the picture to visit their website to learn more about early learning and prenatal education.

"The aim of baby education is not to impart specific facts to a child, but rather to stimulate the child's brain, thereby facilitating learning at an earlier age, when it is easier."  (brillbaby.com)

Every so often we have a comment about "pushing" children too hard.  Of course we at the BabyPlus Company take those types of comments very seriously.  By using BabyPlus during your pregnancy you are setting the groundwork for a lifetime of learning for your child.

Please click on our logo to learn more about the benefits of prenatal education.

Timing is everything - especially with pregnancy!

You will not have a chance again to impact your baby's development in such a profound way.  We know so much about the prenatal environment, so we must do everything we can to make sure our developing baby has all the opportunities available to her.

Most people believe pregnancy lasts a long time.  Well, I believe time flies when you are trying to create this wonderful little person.  We say many times a day that providing our beneficial curriculum of a mother's heartbeat during fetal development is crucial.

Take the time to visit our website and learn more about learning in the womb, why the mother's heartbeat sounds are significant, and early brain development.

Another great testimonial - this time from a BabyPlus parent who has a degree in Child Development...

"As soon as I found the Baby Plus system, I knew it was for me. I have a degree in Child Development and I own a private school educating children from birth to primary grades. I am constantly researching ways to stimulate development. It makes total sense to start that stimulation in the womb while the brain is developing! I used the Baby Plus system faithfully from 18 weeks on. And like others, I also endured constant questioning from skeptic. I'm sure they feel silly now!! My daughter turned 17 months old today and she is by far the brightest child of her age that I have ever known. And that is saying a lot!

Directly after birth she was alert and tracking voices. She would even turn her head to follow my husband! She has met every milestone very early. She said her first words at 4 months. She was talking in sentences by 10 months. Now, at seventeen months she knows the names of all 80 children at our school. She can identify letters and can even write "M"s and "A"s. She can identify and sort by colors. She sings full songs. She can count to 10. She has always been extremely friendly and outgoing. At 15 months she had COMPLETED all of her 2 year milestones.

I will continue to recommend Baby Plus to every expectant mother I meet. And to all the baby plus parents out there... don't underestimate what your child can do! Provide them with every experience possible and they will continuously surprise you!

BS Child Development, Preschool/Primary School Owner/Director, and proud Parent!!!!!!!"

Thank you - we couldn't have said it better ourselves!

Twins alert!

Title: First Time Mom Feels First Time Movement with BabyPlus 

(from Lindsey, a BP business partner)                                                       

"When I found out I was pregnant with twins due this summer, there was no doubt in my mind I would be using the BabyPlus Prenatal Education System. After reading so much about it and seeing how positively the curriculum had impacted my best friend’s daughter – good sleeper, great demeanor, early milestones, etc - it was a no brainer! So, I began using BabyPlus as soon as I hit week 18. I had read that many moms-to-be often feel their babies kick when the system is on, but I hadn’t felt either of the twins move yet prior to using BabyPlus and figured I had a couple of weeks yet. Imagine my surprise and complete excitement when, on day two of using BabyPlus, I felt one of them move for the first time! I thought my mind might be playing tricks on me, but there it was again – a little flutter. I can now feel them moving separately and BabyPlus sometimes even gets them kicking together on either side of my belly. Ever since that first flutter, I feel them move consistently and am so thankful that BabyPlus helped me identify their little movements and feel even closer to my twins!"


Click on the number 2 to read more parent testimonials on our website at www.babyplus.com!

        I am often asked by friends and family why I chose to send my two young sons to a foreign language immersion elementary school.  The obvious reasons would be that we are  living in a global economy and exposure to a multicultural environment is important for a well rounded child.  While those may be important reasons they are not as impactful as  cognitive development and better critical thinking skills.  Studies show that children enrolled in foreign language immersion programs score statistically higher on standardized tests conducted in English.  One study showed that by the fifth year of an immersion program students outperform all comparison groups and remain high academic achievers throughout their academic careers. Researchers know that exposure to an enriched environment with extra sensory stimulation enhances cognitive development.  This positive effect on intellectual growth has been shown to improve everything from listening skills to the enhancement of memory.  This enriched environment is important not only in early infancy and childhood but also during the prenatal period.  The BabyPlus Prenatal Education System provides simple auditory lessons to the prenatal child.  The maternal heartbeat is the first language a prenatal developing brain understands.  BabyPlus exposes the baby to a language that is only slightly different.  We now know this kind of sonic stimulation in utero is the beginning of learning.  The prenatal child benefits from the BabyPlus System in ways similar to a toddler being exposed daily to a foreign language with very similar outcomes.  We know the benefits of this type of enriched environment are real and tangible to these children later in life.
I am already seeing the manifestation of this enhanced environment in my two little boys aged 5 and 7.  As a typical proud mom I am of course excited to see how advanced my boys are but mostly I am excited for what this simple shift in environment has given them.        

Regarding any questions about the sounds of BabyPlus...the tones are natural, and the sound level is safe.

This is a question we occasionally receive in Customer Service Department.  With over 30+ years of scientific research behind our system, we know this: The sound level to the baby is strictly controlled for both pitch and volume.  Dr. Brent Logan spent many years studying the normal environment of the developing baby via intrauterine hydrophones, and BabyPlus® is carefully designed to present sounds to the prenatal infant at a very safe but audible level.  The baby hears the sounds of the mother's heartbeat at approximately 95 decibels, as loud as a rock band, constantly.  Moreover, normal sounds in a mother's environment--television, loud remarks, traffic- can reach the prenatal environment at volumes similar to that of her heartbeat yet the baby still sleeps through it most of the time, even though its brain is monitoring the sound.  BabyPlus is designed to produce an external sound of approximately 85 to 90 decibels, which is then reduced by 30-35 decibels as it is filtered through the mother's abdominal wall, reaching the prenatal infant at 60 decibels, well below the sound level of the mother's maternal placental blood pulse--which is present every moment, 24 hours per day. 

BabyPlus therefore has a scientifically engineered sound ceiling which is always less that the natural sonic environment of the womb.  More than 150,000 families worldwide have attested to its safety and effectiveness. Over stimulation does not occur because the sound is so relative to the auditory environment of the developing baby. 

Go to www.babyplus.com and click on the FAQ (frequently asked questions) portion of the site. This has a relative listing of decibel levels in the environment as they pertain to the immediate prenatal environment.

Or, click on the logo below to hear the sounds of the BabyPlus!


 

Thump thump.  Thump thump.  Thump thump.

Curious Friend:   What is that noise coming from your belly? 

Mom2Be:  That's my new BabyPlus. 

Curious Friend:  Baby what? 

Mom2Be:  BabyPlus.  It's basically learning in the womb.  It takes a simple set of sounds that resembles my heartbeat and uses it to strengthen my baby's cognitive development. 

Curious Friend:  Really?  It sounds silly to me.  How can a heartbeat make your baby learn?

Mom2Be:  It's quite simple.  Studies have shown that a developing baby's brain is stimulated by the mother's heartbeat.  By using that sound, it makes sense that it will make his or her learning ability stronger. 

Curious Friend:  Okay.  You've got my attention.  But I don't feel that a baby should be forced into learning before he or she is even born.  There's enough pressure to have a smart and perfect baby.

Mom2Be:  Oh, BabyPlus doesn't necessarily make your baby smarter or even force them to learn.  It just strengthens what your baby will be born with.  It also helps your baby more readily nurse, self soothe and reach developmental milestones earlier. 

Curious Friend:  That is very interesting!  I want to use it during my pregnancy.  When can I start?

Mom2Be:  You would want to start using it at about 18 weeks, when your baby's hearing is developed.

Curious Friend:  All of what you have said makes a lot of sense.  If I want to learn more, where can I get more information?

Mom2Be:  Their website www.babyplus.com has a lot of great information as well as answers to many frequently asked questions.  It also has wonderful testimonials from so many families who have actually used BabyPlus!

Curious Friend:  I can't wait to get started!  Who knew that such a simple idea could have such a huge impact on my baby.  What a great discovery! 
 

Using BabyPlus during the prenatal period enhances cognitive development.  The news seems to be buzzing right now about the fact that mothers should take omega-3 fatty acid during pregnancy for "brain development."  We are all saying the same thing!

First, what exactly are omega-3s?  With a small amount of research I was able to learn that they are fatty acids that are good for you.  Your body can't produce them, so you need to get them another way.  How can we get omega-3s into our diet?  Most articles mention flaxseeds, walnuts, beans, some fish (such as salmon), olive oil  - even cod liver oil! (Please remember to first check with your health care provider to see what what he or she thinks.)

According to an archived article at webmd.com, "researchers found that infants born to mothers with higher blood levels of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) at delivery had advanced levels of attention spans well into their second year of life. During the first six months of life, these infants were two months ahead of those babies whose mothers had lower DHA levels."  (two months ahead!)

You can read a great article about omega-3's and pregnancy at pregnancy-info.com by clicking on their picture to the left.

The importance of the prenatal period has never been more clear - your baby is impacted for a lifetime by your choices now.  This is a critical time in the development of your child.  Remember to be well-balanced and not to overdo anything!

Many years ago, pregnant women just did what was natural with little thought to nutrition or outside influences.  When prenatal vitamins were first suggested, I'm sure that women were thinking that it was a fad, a scam or something that really wouldn't make that much of a difference.  For instance, doctors didn't know about how folic acid impacted a developing baby.  Now we know how essential it is during pregnancy and what birth defects it can prevent.  However, I should point out that folic acid does not guarantee the prevention of birth defects but increases the odds they will prevented.

Today, taking a prenatal vitamin isn't given a second thought and is strongly encouraged for many reasons learned over the years.  Why wouldn't using a prenatal curriculum be the same?  We are learning more and more about the prenatal environment every day.

It is safe to assume that influencing a baby's cognitive development during fetal stages can be one such factor.  The realization that learning in the womb actually takes place and that learning begins before birth is giving way to prenatal education in mainstream ideas. 

The brain is a complex organ and scientists only know a fraction about it and its functions.  To push aside an idea is a little premature.  Using a prenatal curriculum during pregnancy has so many great benefits.  BabyPlus doesn't guarantee a genius baby, a perfect sleeper or a highly gifted child, but it does increase the odds of strengthening the cognitive blueprint. 
 

Planning Ahead

We are under a pattern of cold temperatures and snow storms here in Central Indiana.  This means we have to plan ahead for school carpools, weather related delays, weather related closings, roads that are not drivable, canceled activities....the list goes on and on.

Everyone learns to plan ahead at one time or another.  Schools often give students an "assignment notebook" to help them to stay organized and ahead of due dates.  I plan ahead by making lists and using a phone with a calendar in it. 

Now is the time for you to plan ahead, too.  Plan ahead for your developing baby by using the BabyPlus Prenatal Education System.  Stay ahead of your due date while recording your baby's reactions to each Lesson on our Customer Lesson Tracking calendar.  Bond with your baby while she or he is still developing.  Using BabyPlus will give your baby the very best head start to life because you have planned to impact her during brain development. 

National Wear Red Day is this Friday, February 6.  The idea is for everyone to wear red to raise awareness of heart disease.  A red sweater - a red scarf - red socks....it doesn't matter just as long as you wear something RED.

Hopefully, most people are already aware that heart disease is the #1 killer of American women.  The statistic is that 1 in 4 women will die of heart disease.

A strong healthy heart is very important to you AND to your baby.  Your good health will directly impact your baby's good health.  Keep in mind that the one consistent sound your baby hears 24 hours a day is your HEARTBEAT.

That is why the BabyPlus Prenatal Education system is based on the mother's heartbeat.  This is the first true language your baby understands. The unborn child receives very little stimulation in the uterus. The only sound that it can clearly discern is the maternal heartbeat. By providing the infant with sounds which closely mimic the maternal heartbeat but which vary in subtly increasing ways, the child's brain learns one of the most basic skills of all - discrimination - before she/he is born.

Ladies - wear red this Friday in celebration of your beautiful heart!

The talk these days seems to be about wiring - in the brain.  I have even heard people say that the brain is our "hard-drive." 

We know the importance of taking care of ourselves during pregnancy - so the next natural step is to make sure we take care of our developing baby.  This is logical and right.

But, how do we make sure we are doing everything possible?  First and foremost, talk to your doctor or health care professional.  He or she will be able to recommend the best ways to take care of yourself and your developing fetus.  Get plenty of rest.  Eat well.  Follow the instructions given to you by your doctor or health-care professional.

Next, use the BabyPlus Prenatal Education System to enhance the fetal environment of your baby.  This prenatal learning opportunity is pretty amazing - and over 150,000+ babies all over the world have benefitted from this curriculum of a mother's heartbeat sounds.  In 16 simple yet varying lessons used through the stages of pregnancy, your baby will begin learning - in the womb!  This may seem small; yet the life-long impact is HUGE.

Visit our website by clicking on our logo to read more about why to use the BabyPlus during this critical time in the cognitive development of your baby.
 

New on our website!

We have added an interactive lesson calendar.  You can type in how many weeks you are pregnant, and you can create a "timetable" that personalizes your use of BabyPlus.  There is even a place to write in notes of how your baby reacted during each session.

This is a great way to keep track of your use of the pattern of the mother's heartbeat sounds during early brain development. If you are first-time parents and this is your first pregnancy, or if you are using the BabyPlus again, please click on the picture below to print a Custom Lesson Tracking Calender to use to track your baby's learning in the womb.