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Prenatal Influences on the Development of the Child in the Womb · Sri Aurobindo Studies

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  We recognize nowadays that actions of the mother impact the
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  fetus in the womb. Certain things impact the
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  physical development, including certain drugs or alcohol.
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  Some drugs may cause physical deformities, others may impact
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  the brain and nervous system. What is less frequently
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  acknowledged, however, is the psychological impact of the
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  mother's experiences, thoughts, and surroundings on the
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  development of the unborn child. If the mother is exposed to
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  circumstances that raise up fear or anger or other strong
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  reactions, various chemical reactions take place.
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  Neurotransmitter chemicals are dumped into her bloodstream and
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  hormones are released. It is a known fact that certain
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  of these neurotransmitters and hormones pass across the
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  placenta and enter the child's developmental environment,
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  similarly exposing the mother to influences of beauty, harmony.
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  Positive emotions also trigger release of neurotransmitters and
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  hormones and thus can also support the development of the
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  child. The growing child begins to
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  respond to the voice of its mother as well as ambient
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  sounds. At a certain stage in the
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  pregnancy. The subtle influences of a
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  positive environment can enhance the development, just as certain
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  influences can harm the development of the budding
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  child, the mother notes Quote to bear a child and construct his
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  body almost subconsciously is not enough.
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  The work really commences when, by the power of thought and
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  will, we conceive and create a character capable of manifesting
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  an ideal. And do not say that we have no
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  power for realizing such a thing.
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  Innumerable instances of this very effective power could be
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  brought out as proofs. First of all, the effect of
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  physical environment was recognized and studied long ago.
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  It is by surrounding women with forms of art and beauty that,
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  little by little, the ancient Greeks created the exceptionally
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  harmonious race that they were. Individual instances of the same
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  fact are numerous. It is not rare to see a woman
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  who, while pregnant, had looked at and constantly admired a
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  beautiful picture or statue giving birth to a child after
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  the perfect likeness of this picture or statue.
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  I met several of these instances myself.
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  Among them I remember very clearly 2 little girls.
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  They were twins and perfectly beautiful, but the most
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  astonishing was how little like their parents they were.
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  They reminded me of a very famous picture painted by the
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  English artist Reynolds. One day I made this remark to
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  the mother, who immediately exclaimed.
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  Indeed, is it not so? You will be interested to know
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  that while I was expecting these children, I had hanging above my
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  bed a very good reproduction of Reynolds picture before going to
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  sleep. And as soon as I woke, my last
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  and first glance was for that picture, and in my heart I hoped
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  may my children be like the faces in this picture.
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  You see that I succeeded quite well.
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  In truth, she could be proud of her success, and her example is
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  of great utility for other women.
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  But if we can obtain such results on the physical plane,
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  where the materials are the least plastic, how much more so
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  on the psychological plane, where the influence of thought
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  and will is so powerful? Why accept the obscure bonds of
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  heredity and atavism, which are nothing else than subconscious
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  preferences for our own trend of character, when we can, by
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  concentration and will, call into being a type constructed
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  according to the highest ideal we are able to conceive?
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  With this effort, maternity becomes truly precious and
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  sacred indeed. With this we enter the glorious
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  work of the Spirit, and womanhood rises above animality
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  and its ordinary instincts towards real humanity and its
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  powers. End Quote.
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  Reference Srioro Bindo and the Mother powers within, Chapter 2.
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  Power of Thought, pages 22 to 23.