Stages of Fetal Development

I just received this sweet note from one of our BabyPlus moms.  I believe it sums up what we feel is so important about prenatal learning during pregnancy.  It's all about strengthening the foundation of what your little one already has!

"I just dropped off my first BabyPlus baby at her first day of Kindergarten. I couldn’t be more proud at this very instant knowing that I’ve done everything humanly possible to start her out on the right foot.

As I tell people, expensive diaper bags, strollers and infant toys are nice, but BabyPlus lasts a LIFETIME.

And yes, still eyes welling as I type this… I held it together for her in the classroom, but the drive home was a different story. "

You can find out more about BabyPlus and building a strong foundation during the important stages of fetal development. 

Click on the picture for more information and to visit our website for testimonials, Frequently Asked Questions and more about BabyPlus!

Seventeen years ago this month, Mattel and Fisher Price Toys companies merged.  My favorite toys growing up were Barbies and Little People and seeing these toys in the store brings back many happy memories.

Toys are such an integral part of a child's development.  Kids are learning while they play.  Age-appropriate toys are important as well - you wouldn't give a metal erector set to a one-year-old.  You would start off with soft, squishy blocks.  After that, you could give him or her foam blocks and eventually you could introduce wooden or plastic pieces.  You start with the simple and basic before moving to the next level. 

This philosophy is the idea behind BabyPlus, which uses age-appropriate sounds during critical stages of fetal development.  By introducing simple sounds relevant to your baby's environment--your heartbeat--you will be able to strengthen cognitive development.  You will be able to move on to more complex sounds, such as music, after your little one is born. 

Much like a prenatal vitamin encourages strong physical development in your baby, BabyPlus encourages strong cognitive development during pregnancy.  You can find out more details at www.babyplus.com and read other families' experiences.

I say it all the time - we LOVE LOVE LOVE getting pictures of "our" BabyPlus babies.

The two darlings have a four year old sibling, so this BabyPlus mom knows the benefits of using the BabyPlus Prenatal Education System.

We have many sets of multiples whose parents used BabyPlus during pregnancy.  The feedback we receive from these parents consistently indicates that their babies are exhibiting the tangible benefits of using the BabyPlus curriculum.

"Our" parents of multiples have seen the same benefits (better sleeping, nursing, self soothing, school readiness, etc.) as the mothers of single babies.  Frequently, twins are born early, and the mothers of babies who were not full term have seen amazing results.  We have had mothers of premature babies report that their babies are reaching their milestones based on their birth age, as opposed to gestational age.  They have also reported shorter hospital stays when compared to other premature babies.

BabyPlus is a series of 16 Lessons based on the mother's heartbeat.  Used during the critical period in prenatal development, this innovative prenatal care curriculum will provide your baby (or babies!) with an appropriate amount of stimulation.  The benefits of infant stimulation are many - read any article on prenatal development and you will learn that baby development after birth is directly impacted by what happens in the day by day pregnancy.

Learn more about the stages of fetal development and the positive impact of BabyPlus!

When I was pregnant, I didn't have any friends or relatives pregnant at the same time.  It would have been nice to share details and have someone with a child around the same age to play with. 

This won't be a problem for four sisters from Chicago who were not only pregnant at the same time but all had their babies within four days of each other!  What fun!  Their story is here.

Another set of sisters who were pregnant at the same time, gave birth in January, February and March of 2010.  (Dr. Phil's daughter-in-law is one of them.)  In fact, they were featured together on the Rachael Ray Show and promoted BabyPlus as one of their favorite pregnancy items.  They understood how the benefits of a simple set of sounds during important stages of fetal development can strengthen learning for a lifetime!

You can find out more about the benefits of BabyPlus and what other parents say by clicking on the logo below.

Trista Sutter is launching a clothing line called "Winter Rose" for My Vintage Baby (http://myvintagebaby.com)

We are very excited to see the debut of Trista Sutter's clothing collection.  

Trista Sutter is a BabyPlus mom of two adorable children, so she already knows the benefits of using this patented prenatal curriculum.  Trista saw the tangible benefits in her first child, 3-year-old Max and decided to use the BabyPlus again with her second child, 1-year-old daughter Blakesley.

Like the other BabyPlus parents all over the world, Trista and her husband Ryan made the decision to give their babies the very best possible advantages throughout life by using this simple, safe set of sounds based on the mother's heartbeat.  During the stages of fetal development, Trista's babies heard her heartbeat and the sounds of BabyPlus.  During the critical period in prenatal development, Trista's babies compared and contrasted the different sounds and strengthened cognitive development... in other words, learning had begun!

BabyPlus US wishes Trista well in her newest endeavor!

There have been several mentions of stress levels and the effects of stress on pregnancies.  Many articles have shown that stress not only affects the health of the mother but her baby as well.  Relaxation is encouraged for moms and there are many ways this can be accomplished.

Taking time each day to relax--even for five minutes--can do wonders for how you feel.  Taking a walk or stretching can be both emotionally and physically beneficial.  A soak in the tub with relaxing scents can also make you feel better after a long day.  Another way to relax and do something great for your baby at the same time is to use BabyPlus lessons. 

BabyPlus' recommended usage is one hour, twice a day.  While you do not have to sit or be still to use the lessons, it's a great excuse to sit and close your eyes with your feet up.  Knowing your little one is building a strong foundation for learning during critical stages of fetal development is a great stress reliever in itself! 

Can't hardly believe that Danica McKellar is pregnant!  Danica McKellar is best known for her role as Winnie in The Wonder Years.  Danica McKellar married composer Mike Verta last year, and now they are pregnant!

According to the article Danica is reading "a lot about parenthood."  The article listed several books she is reading about parenting and what happens after delivery.

Danica will also likely want to know more about what happens BEFORE delivery - in the prenatal period.  The prenatal period is critical to the lifelong learning process of your baby.  Using the BabyPlus Prenatal Education System - a simple, safe set of sounds based on the mother's heartbeat - while pregnant encourages cognitive development.  Danica will find out that learning in the womb is not a new idea - many cultures have believed in and practiced forms of prenatal stimulation for years.

Since this is Danica McKellar's first pregnancy, she will likely read about the stages of fetal development and all the stages through pregnancy.  Being first time parents, Danica and Mike will be encouraged by the many parents who report that using BabyPlus positively impacted the infant sleeping schedule.  BabyPlus parents all over the world report their BabyPlus babies more readily nurse, have increased ability to self-soothe, and have great sleeping habits.

BabyPlus congratulates Danica McKellar, her husband Mike Verta and their baby!

(I feel old!)

"Pregnant women everywhere can pull the headset away from their bellies...." begins the article titled "Mozart Effect: A Popular Myth Debunked and Explained" written by Katie Drummond on the site politicsdaily.com. 

Her information comes from an article titled "Mozart's Music Does Not Make You Smarter, Study Finds" from the May 10, 2010 online article at ScienceDaily.  

The article at ScienceDaily refers to three University of Vienna researchers who present new findings in the US journal Intelligence suggesting no evidence for specific cognitive enhancements by mere listening to Mozart's music.

This is the reason BabyPlus is so very effective - music and the spoken word are simply too complex for the prenatal child during cognitive development.  BabyPlus is so effective because of the simplicity of the sounds - the maternal heartbeat - used during the development of the fetus.  Your developing baby hears your heartbeat 24/7.  When you play the BabyPlus curriculum your baby hears your heartbeat and then the heartbeat sounds of the BabyPlus and begins comparing and contrasting - thus learning has begun.

We already KNOW this and that is why the BabyPlus Prenatal Education System is so distinctive from classical music for the prenatal months!

Attitudes are shifting!  Common sense about the prenatal environment is here!

Everyone understands the negatives of the prenatal environment on fetal development.  We know that when a woman drinks alcohol during pregnancy, she risks giving birth to a child who will pay the price — in mental and physical deficiencies — for his or her entire life.  Fetal alcohol syndrome will impact a baby physically and developmentally forever.

What about the positives?

Doesn't it make sense that if the negatives can impact your child forever, so can the positives?  Everything that is enriching should start early - and early means the critical times in child development - while you are still pregnant.  Fetal development occurs in stages.  Begin using the BabyPlus Prenatal Education System during your pregnancy  you will benefit your baby's development in profound ways.

Remember -anything you do as an expectant mother and during pregnancy lasts a lifetime for your child!

I saw so many great benefits when I used it before that I would NEVER go through a pregnancy without BabyPlus.

My baby was alert, nursed well, was self-soothing, and, most of all, was a great sleeper!  She is will be going to preschool, and she is very ready!  She has a long attention span and is very creative and independent.

Before I became pregnant, I read articles on prenatal development.  I was amazed to read about the profound impact moms can have on their babies during the stages of development of a fetus.  All the stages through pregnancy are critical times in child development.  So much happens before the baby is even born!

I was fascinated to learn that the use of the mother's heartbeat sounds during my pregnancy can have such a big impact on baby development after birth.

All moms (and dads!) should learn about the benefits of infant stimulation today!

Thank you for this great product!

"Pregnant women everywhere can pull the headset away from their bellies...." begins the article titled "Mozart Effect: A Popular Myth Debunked and Explained" written by Katie Drummond on the site politicsdaily.com.  Her information comes from an article titled "Mozart's Music Does Not Make You Smarter, Study Finds" from the May 10, 2010 online article at ScienceDaily.  

The article at ScienceDaily refers to three University of Vienna researchers who present new findings in the US journal Intelligence suggesting no evidence for specific cognitive enhancements by mere listening to Mozart's music.

This is the reason BabyPlus is so very effective - music and the spoken word are simply too complex for the prenatal child during cognitive development.  BabyPlus is so effective because of the simplicity of the sounds - the maternal heartbeat - used during the development of the fetus.  Your developing baby hears your heartbeat 24/7.  When you play the BabyPlus curriculum your baby hears your heartbeat and then the heartbeat sounds of the BabyPlus and begins comparing and contrasting - thus learning has begun.

We already KNOW this! This is why the BabyPlus Prenatal Education System is so distinctive from classical music for the prenatal months!

The BabyPlus Company takes pride in keeping up to date on pregnancy news!  And, what can be more up to date than prenatal learning and enrichment?

BabyPlus is not only focused on strengthening the important stages of fetal development through a simple set of sounds but also how to make pregnancy fun while being informative. 

Did you miss any of BabyPlus' past webinars?  If you did, our Webinar Archive is posted on our website at http://www.babyplus.com/webinar_archive.php.

You can download our webinars on nutrition during pregnancy, pregnancy fashion or learning in the womb.

It's a fun and interesting way to be informed during pregnancy!

Prenatal sleep states remain undisturbed by BabyPlus stimulation.

Expectant mothers and fathers have asked how their baby will sleep once born.  We understand that the idea of baby stimulation could lead to that question.  BabyPlus babies have wonderful sleep patterns; plus, they have an increased ability to self-sooth.

The sound level to the baby is strictly controlled for both pitch and volume.  Dr. Brent Logan spent 25 years studying the normal environment of the developing baby, and BabyPlus is carefully designed to present sounds for the prenatal infant at a very safe but audible level.  

The baby hears the sounds of its mother's heartbeat at approximately 95 decibels, as loud as a rock band, constantly.   Moreover, normal sounds in a mother's environment--television, radio, loud remarks, traffic--reach the fetus at volumes similar to that of her heartbeat yet the baby still sleeps through this noise most of the time, even though its brain is always monitoring these sounds.  

BabyPlus is designed to produce an external sound of about  90 to 95  decibels, which is then reduced by 30-35 decibels as it is filtered through the mother's abdominal wall, reaching the unborn infant at  60-65 decibels, well below the sound level of the mother's blood.  BabyPlus therefore has a scientifically engineered sound ceiling which is always less than that of the natural sonic environment of the womb.  More than 150,000+ families worldwide have attested to its safety and effectiveness.  Overstimulation does not occur because, like the maternal bloodpulse, this sound is so familiar to the developing baby. The tones are natural, and the sound level is appropriate.  

Remember - the womb is not a "soundproof booth."  Your baby is hearing everything all day long.  The purpose of prenatal stimulation is to use a sound your baby is very familiar with - the mother's heartbeat - during the critical period in prenatal development. 

Using the BabyPlus Prenatal Education System when you are pregnant is simply encouraging the process of strong learning for life during the crucial stages of fetal development.

Everyone agrees about the importance of the early environment.  We have abundant research and information about the negatives. 

Now is the time to think about the positive impact of prenatal learning.  

Using the BabyPlus curriculum of 16 lessons based on the mother's heartbeat sounds encourages your baby to discriminate between these sounds and the sound of your heartbeat - in other words - learning has begun!

Encourage the process of learning for a lifetime for your baby by using BabyPlus!

Earlier this week Kiwi Magazine's Blog noted a university based study citing the benefits of hand-clapping in little ones.  The study found that kiddies in lower elementary who participated in hand-clapping songs, during recess or music class had neater hand writing and even improved writing and spelling skills throughout the day.  Children who engage in hand-clapping songs actually show an increase in motor and cognitive skills.  The correlation is understandable when we think about the first rhythm ever enjoyed by any of us; our mother's heartbeat.  During the stages of fetal development the benefit of infant stimulation via a simple rhythmic sound is already taking place.  Every trimester of pregnancy is critical to the development of the baby but at the point that your baby begins to hear (usually around week 18) an entire new world opens up to baby.  He begins to listen to mommy's rhythm!  Studies have shown that introducing a simple set of sounds which are similar to mom's heartbeat but differ enough to create a slight contrast  are most effective for greater cognitive development.  Other kinds of stimulation such as classical music are likely more entertaining to mommy.  Baby's brain is not able to process something so complicated.  After all its the soothing symphonic melody of mommy's heartbeat that is most familiar.  Don't worry mom there will be plenty of time later in his life for Mozart or Chopin; until then he has BabyPlus. 

The BabyPlus Prenatal Education System is truly amazing.  The stages of fetal development are crucial, and we all know it.  Check any article on prenatal development, and you will see the almost overwhelming consensus that learning in the womb will help your baby as an infant. 

What is especially amazing is that as your child grows, this early curriculum used by forward-thinking expectant mothers during their pregnancy will impact their child(ren) well beyond childhood. 

How wonderful to know that early brain development will benefit your baby way past infancy and childhood. 

In fact, you don't even have to be born!

BabyPlus is based on more than 25 years of scientific research.  More is known today than ever before about the prenatal environment.  We know the negative effects can last a lifetime - but what about the positive effects?  Take some time to think about the positive impact you can make during the critical period in prenatal development.

Our prenatal curriculum introduces your developing baby to learning in the only true language of the prenatal environment, the language of the maternal heartbeat. The spoken word is too difficult for the developing child to understand and music is too complex.

However, scientifically conducted studies show that the prenatal child recognizes the maternal heartbeat and can learn to differentiate progressively more rhythmic patterns of that sound.  BabyPlus uses the mother's heartbeat sounds during the stages of fetal
development to encourage learning in the womb.

Take some time to think about the positive impact you can have during the critical period in prenatal development. 

Click on our logo to visit www.babyplus.com to learn more!

Attitudes are shifting!  Common sense about the prenatal environment is here!

Everyone understands the negatives of the prenatal environment on fetal development.  We know that when a woman drinks alcohol during pregnancy, she risks giving birth to a child who will pay the price — in mental and physical deficiencies — for his or her entire life.  Fetal alcohol syndrome will impact a baby physically and developmentally forever.

What about the positives?

Doesn't it make sense that if the negatives can impact your child forever, so can the positives?  Everything that is enriching should start early - and early means the critical times in child development - while you are still pregnant.  Fetal development occurs in stages.  Begin using the BabyPlus Prenatal Education System during the 18th week of your pregnancy or later and you will benefit your baby's development in profound ways.

Remember -anything you do as an expectant mother and during pregnancy lasts a lifetime for your child!

Is there that much of a difference between playing music and using BabyPlus?  Absolutely!

While appropriate for infants and young children, music is too complex for a developing baby.  BabyPlus simplifies the complexity of music and breaks it down to a "language" your baby can understand--a single beat.  By introducing BabyPlus, a similar beat relative to his or her environment, learning begins during the most important stages of fetal development and cognitive development is strengthened for a lifetime!

There is no doubt that after your baby is born, music is a wonderful tool.  Start out simple and then once your baby is born, you can work up to building an appreciation for music. 

Find out more about the benefits of prenatal learning as well as other families' experiences with BabyPlus by clicking the logo below. 

An article about our "spokesmom" Shannon Miller is on the Working Mother online site.  In the story by Irene Kwon, Shannon talks about balancing her active life with a new baby and a busy career.  Click on the Working Mother logo to read the article!

Shannon's career is focused on health and wellness for women and children.  She is hard at work with several new business ventures - everything from her recently established foundation (with the mission to prevent childhood obesity) to her coming website targeted to women (containing information about health and fitness).  Shannon has also authored a prenatal cookbook as well as fitness books for on-the-go moms.

Shannon read articles on prenatal development when she became pregnant, and she turned to the BabyPlus Prenatal Education System immediately.  She and her husband quickly realized the many benefits of using the BabyPlus curriculum during the stages of fetal development

As Shannon says in the article: "All parents want the best for their child and to give their baby every opportunity to succeed. She recommends that 'if you can start at 18 weeks prenatal, then go for it.' "

Learn more about the benefits of prenatal education at www.babyplus.com.