"Windows to the Womb" is an eloquent guide through the first nine months of life from conception to birth. In the past, the invisible physical processes of fetal development were mysterious and largely unexplainable, but in the past half-century, breakthroughs in embryology, interuterine photography, ultrasound, and other sensitive instruments of measurement have have enabled us to make systematic observations inside the womb. We now understand that fetuses are fully sentient and aware beings. In this new climate of appreciation for the surprising dimensions of fetal behavior, sensitivity, and intelligence, this book brings a host of new information to light about the transformative journey each one of us must undergo in the womb.
With reverent awe, the author describes the amazing construction of our physical bodies, the "ultimate architecture," and draws parallels with the expansion of our minds as our brains and senses develop and grow. Dr. Chamberlain details new discoveries in embryonic and fetal research that support his own findings on the impact of the mother's emotional and physical state during pregnancy; the importance of bonding at the earliest stages, long before birth; and the steps that expectant parents can take to ensure the most nurturing start in life for their children.
Table of Contents
- 1. Windows to the Womb: The First Generation to See and Know
- 2. The Wonder of Conception
- 3. Your Body Under Construction: The Ultimate Architecture
- 4. Motion and Emotion: Prenatal Body Language
- 5. Coming to Your Senses--All Twelve
- 6. The Intelligent Fetus
- 7. Learning, Learning, and Learning
- 8. Consciousness: Before and Beyond Brain
- 9. Afterword: Implications and Applications/Birth and the New World
- Appendix A: About Bonding
- Bibliography
- Chapter Notes and Sources
- Index