HOW THE FIRST NINE MONTHS SHAPE THE REST OF YOUR LIFE

 What are the issues of Development evident from the write up? Give examples from the essay.

1. NATURE VS. NURTURE

a) Nature
Here are examples from the write up ;
 We are the way we are because it’s in our genes.
 The nutrition you received in the womb; the pollutants, drugs and infections you were
exposed to during gestation; your mother’s health and state of mind while she was pregnant
with you- all these factors shaped you as a baby and continue to affect you to this day.
 Fetal Origins- the nine months of our lives, permanently influencing the wiring of the brain
and the functioning of organs such as the heart, liver and pancreas.

b) Nurture
 We turn out the way we do because of our childhood experiences.
REFLECTION PAPER

HOW THE FIRST NINE MONTHS SHAPE THE REST OF YOUR LIFE

Mothers or some women would not believe that the first nine months of a baby in their womb will
not affect them as they will grow old. There is no harm in believing and there are lots of questions
regarding this. As a woman who dream of being a mother, I also want my child to grow healthy.
Prevention is better than cure, as they say.

According to Annie Murphy, the nutrition that the baby received in the womb, the pollutants,
drugs and infections he/she were exposed to during gestation, the mother’s health and state of mind
while she was pregnant shaped the baby and continue to affect him/her to this day. I believe that in
order to have a healthy baby, a mother should start nourishing them from their womb. Also, as a
pregnant woman, it is a must to take care of themselves not just for them but for the life in their
womb. My mother told me that when she was carrying me on her womb, she always eat vegetables
and avoid the foods that was prohibited for her and when she gave birth to me, I was healthy. I don’t
get sick easily. She also told me that she read stories for me that’s why I learned to read easily. The
only thing that my mother did not do is to sing for me, that is why I don’t know how to sing.

Moreover, when a baby was born with disabilities or sickness, they often blame the mother for
not taking care of herself. Most expectant women are warned that drinking alcohol, smoking and even
eating unpasteurized cheeses can have serious consequences for the growth and development of their
unborn children (Konkel, 2013). It is proven that what you eat are the nutrients that your baby will get.
Furthermore, the activities that a pregnant woman do contribute to her baby’s development before
and after birth. The environment of a pregnant woman also affects the baby, living in a smoky
environment has long been tied to asthma and breathing problems in kids. One study of mothers and
children in China found that kids born to mothers exposed to secondhand smoke during pregnancy
were more than twice as likely to develop attention and aggression problems by the age of five than
the children of mothers unexposed to smoke. Pregnancy is a crucial stage for mothers, a short amount
of time for so much growth.

However, Filipinos, to this day, believe that what you eat and crave for during pregnancy has a
direct influence on the physical attributes of the baby. But genetics tells us that our physical attributes
are from the genes of our parents or family.
 There are lots of ideas regarding this topic but one thing is for sure, taking care of your health
during pregnancy will help you and benefit your baby. Prevention is better than cure, it is better to
avoid the things that we know can affect our health and our future babies. Start shaping your babies
life during the first nine months and make sure that he/she will have a healthy and well life.