The Two Way Umbilical The Two Way Umbilical CordCordKathryn Landherr, MDShawn Tassone, MDSanFrancisco, CA November 16, 2012

Intro – How We Came to Intro – How We Came to bebeBoard certified OBGYN

Mind Body Medicine

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction

The story of Angelo

What is DevelopmentWhat is DevelopmentEmbryonic – brain, organs,

tissues, from plueripotential cells comes specialization

Psychological – Stages of behavior, physical development, mental

Spiritual – depends on the tradition, evolves throughout life and can begin in utero

Pre-Implantation EmbryoPre-Implantation Embryo35,000 genes carry all the information

required to transcribe the human phenotype.

Plueripotential cells change based on exposure to hormones and chemicals

Placental invasion starts life because of anoxia and evolves into oxygenated life.

Blastocyst receptors for growth hormone in the fallopian tube. Deficiencies have been shown to cause hypertension after birth

Embryonic StageEmbryonic Stage8-14 weeksOrchestration of hormonal and

environmental influence on the embryo differentiate gender and growth◦IGF-1◦Fetal insulin and glucocorticoids◦Sex hormones

All anatomic structures are present and are in the stage of growth

Pre-Embryonic vs Pre-Embryonic vs EmbryonicEmbryonicBefore 14 days the embryogenesis

is an all or none response.Exogenous, Endogenous or

environmental insult at this stage will cause spontaneous miscarriage

Teratogenic influence◦Infectious agents (TORCH)◦Medications, hormones, and chemicals◦Physical (radiation)◦Environmental toxins and drugs ◦Maternal factors (diabetes)

Placenta as conductorPlacenta as conductorDistinctively mammalianInvasive organ, can become

cancerous12-14 weeks fully functionalEach placenta meets the needs of

the individual fetusFunctions

◦Waste and nutrient transfer◦HCG production◦Progesterone production

Maternal Fetal Maternal Fetal EnvironmentEnvironmentMaternal factors influencing

growth◦Food◦Altitude – oxygenation◦Temperatures◦Infections◦Behaviors (smoking and other insults)

Fetal nutrition reflects the maternal nutrition

Sharing the World with Sharing the World with FetusFetusTouch

◦ Nerve growth and sensation begins immediately in fetal life

◦ Mother can “feel” the fetus move @ 16-20 weeks – quickening (entering of the soul?)

◦ Bonding with the infant through pressing on the abdomen or rocking the fetus as you walk

Hearing◦ Queens University study demonstrated that

fetal heart rates increased when mother read to the fetus

◦ Responses to vibroacoustic stimulation were demonstrated 19-25 weeks

◦ Ears begin to protrude from the head at 16 weeks

Sharing the World with Sharing the World with FetusFetusSmell and Taste

◦Neural fibers reach the tongue at 6 weeks (Witt, 1998)

◦Link between amniotic fluid and breast milk connecting mother and baby

◦Bakalar, 2012 Amniotic fluid contains glucose, fructose, fatty

and amnio acids Introduction of sweet solutions into the

amniotic fluid increases fetal swallowing Mennella (2012) a taste for sugar is innate Mothers who ate more fruit in pregnancy and

lactation had babies more likely to eat peaches, however string beans did not have the same effect

Sharing the World with Sharing the World with FetusFetusSight

◦Fetal eyes can detect light at 28 weeks

◦LED pulses of light on abdomen increased fetal kick response and increase of release of dopamine (Warrander, 2012).

Sixth Sense Mother’s intuition Story of Jane

The Two Way Umbilical The Two Way Umbilical CordCordWe have discussed fetal development

and the potential effects of external and internal influence

How can women bond with the unborn fetus?

Conscious, unconscious, and meditativeJourneywork exercises for the mother to

beUltrasound connection (Pretorius, 2005)

Heart rate variabilityHeart rate variabilitySympathetic and parasympathetic

neural systems and the heart◦Maternal◦Fetal

Institute of Heart Math http://www.heartmath.org ◦McCraty, 2004

The heart generates the largest electromagnetic field in the body (60 times greater than brainwaves)

Not impeded by tissue and can be measured several feet away

Individuals in close proximity will have synchronization of heart rates which can fluctuate based on emotions.

Coherence and Coherence and IncoherenceIncoherence

Fetal Heart Rate VariabilityFetal Heart Rate VariabilityDevelopment of the Brain-Cardiac

axisBattle for control of the

sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.

Determination of fetal brain health (reactivity and nonreactivity)

Normal fetal heart tones 20-160bpm

Reactive Fetal Heart RateReactive Fetal Heart Rate

Decelerations in the Fetal Decelerations in the Fetal HeartHeart

Poor Fetal Heart Rate Poor Fetal Heart Rate VariabilityVariability

Maternal Fetal Bonding Maternal Fetal Bonding (Coherence)(Coherence)Ivanov (2009)

◦Fetal hear rate and variability changes with maternal oxygenation

◦Maternal stress increases the fetal heart rate

◦During sleep the fetal heart beat decreases synchronously with the maternal heart rate

◦Maternal fetal coupling or synchrony may not be related to respirations The maternal cardiac system has a direct

detuning effect on the fetal rhythm

Maternal Fetal Bonding as he Maternal Fetal Bonding as he Heroine’s JourneyHeroine’s JourneyThe Ordinary World

◦The women starts in her current worldly state the place she will leave

The Call to Transformation◦Hormonal and physical changes that

begin the initiationReluctance

◦Doubts and fears that may increase catecholamines which cross the placenta.

Maternal Fetal Bonding as he Maternal Fetal Bonding as he Heroine’s JourneyHeroine’s JourneyWisdom and Mentors

◦Outer and inner guides. Tapping into the maternal archetype. Looking at the future through the past

Crossing the First Threshold◦First into the second trimester

The Initiation◦Physical and spiritual transformation of

pregnancy◦Connection to the fetus through nutrition

becoming aware

Maternal Fetal Bonding as he Maternal Fetal Bonding as he Heroine’s JourneyHeroine’s JourneyApproach to the Inmost Cave

◦The physical and spiritual womb – dealing with anxiety and fear

The Ordeal◦The birthing process and the effects of

natural birth, epidurals, and cesareans.The Reward

◦The baby where many feel the bonding begins with breast feeding, but the bonding has started long before

Maternal Fetal Bonding as he Maternal Fetal Bonding as he Heroine’s JourneyHeroine’s JourneyThe Road Back

◦Coming back to the ordinary world after the journey and learning to tap into the maternal archetype and family

Resurrection◦Reborn into the journey of the parent

after the end of the pregnancy. Hormonal and physical return.

Return with the Elixir◦The baby as a physical manifestation of

your spiritual journey that is a sharing with the world.

Journeywork for Increased Journeywork for Increased Maternal-Fetal BondingMaternal-Fetal BondingYoga and breathworkChoosing your maternal mentorsRitual workSpiritual lovemakingMeditationFood Feedback with FetusCentering Prayer or MeditationElemental Journeywork

◦ Air – breath◦ Earth – walking meditation◦ Fire – feeding the flames with fear◦ Water - floating

Questions?Questions?