Tomatis Method: Pregnant women are commonly advised to avoid noisy work environments and be wary of the sounds that their baby is exposed to while in the womb. But as good as that advice is, it can be a bit of stretch to assume that pregnancy will be stress free just because you have managed to find a peaceful, tranquil place to spend your maternity leave.
Always remember that pregnancy will mean a lot of natural changes in the body’s hormones. Pregnant women must avoid noise. Avoid unnecessary sources of stress that pile on to those changes.
At the same time though, pregnant women must also remember that stress can come in other forms and from other negative habits. One example could be trying to catch a deadline for work, or engaging in unhealthy multi-tasking. It can even be caused by the way you are positioning yourself and moving about.
Naturally, the best way to counteract these negative habits is by developing good ones! Here are some of our own suggestions:
You’ve heard this advice once, and you will keep hearing it because it is simply true. Your child can hear you from inside your womb (particularly once the ears have developed).
The benefits of such bonding moments are numerous. The link you have with your baby will have an impact on your relationship with them long after they are born. When you talk to them while still in the womb, they will become more familiar with your voice. It can strengthen the emotional link you have with them.
Remember, babies can hear snatches of sound from both within their mother’s body as well as outside it. The fetus’s ears are already picking up high frequencies that are being processed in the brain, even when that brain is not fully conscious. Take this opportunity to start nourishing the bond you have with your child!
Never underestimate the type of stress you can experience while staying at home. Whether it is a work-from-home routine that you decided to set up, the chores you’re doing or even the type of entertainment you have, it’s better to take a step back from anything that becomes a source of anxiety and stress.
Try to set times during your day where you can do some relaxing breathing exercises or meditation. Alternatively, you can put on a bit of peaceful sounding music or a special listening program that can help strengthen your brain’s ability to regulate emotions.
It might also help to reduce your exposure to stressful news information. Cut down the time spent on social media if it is only filling your mind with thoughts that create worry. These things have a way of being felt by your baby too! Hence, it is really important to stay focused on maintaining the best state of mind.
Lastly, the changes in your body will doubtlessly affect your ability to move about and maintain an upright posture. This can also affect your stress levels in unexpected ways as moving, standing or sitting improperly puts additional strain and speeds up exhaustion.
Fortunately, there are a number of simple home exercises you can already start trying at home. But of course, make sure you pick the ones most appropriate for your trimester as well as other unique aspects of your physical health.
(As a side note though, quiet places can certainly be very helpful in balancing exercises because the vestibular system and the cochlea in your inner ear are not experiencing additional strain from noise.)
Remember, stress can still be experienced in a number of ways even when there is not a lot of sound being heard around the house. Be mindful of when increasing anxiety starts to happen even when things seem quiet. By learning to be both vigilant yet at peace at the same time, you are also sharing such experiences with the child in your womb and helping them feel safer at home.
If you need any advice or support, then know that we at the Australian Tomatis Method are still here to help you. Please reach out if you need to, either by email at info@tomatis.com.au or by phone to Francoise at 0414 444 915.
Official Representative of Tomatis Developpement SA in Australia, Asia and South Pacific, Director of the Australian Tomatis® Method, Registered Psychologist, Certified Tomatis® Consultant Senior, Tomatis® International Trainer and Speaker, Co-author of the Listening Journey Series, 40 Years of Experience, Neurodiversity Speaker
