Zero to Birth

Zero to Birth

Author: William A. Harris

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2024-01-09

Total Pages: 272

ISBN-13: 0691253943

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

A revelatory tale of how the human brain develops, from conception to birth and beyond By the time a baby is born, its brain is equipped with billions of intricately crafted neurons wired together through trillions of interconnections to form a compact and breathtakingly efficient supercomputer. Zero to Birth takes you on an extraordinary journey to the very edge of creation, from the moment of an egg’s fertilization through each step of a human brain’s development in the womb—and even a little beyond. As pioneering experimental neurobiologist W. A. Harris guides you through the process of how the brain is built, he takes up the biggest questions that scientists have asked about the developing brain, describing many of the thrilling discoveries that were foundational to our current understanding. He weaves in a remarkable evolutionary story that begins billions of years ago in the Proterozoic eon, when multicellular animals first emerged from single-cell organisms, and reveals how the growth of a fetal brain over nine months reflects the brain’s evolution through the ages. Our brains have much in common with those of other animals, and Harris offers an illuminating look at how comparative animal studies have been crucial to understanding what makes a human brain human. An unforgettable chronicle of one of nature’s greatest achievements, Zero to Birth describes how the brain’s incredible feat of orchestrated growth ensures that every brain is unique, and how breakthroughs at the frontiers of science are helping us to decode many traits that only reveal themselves later in life.


Zero to Five

Zero to Five

Author: Tracy Cutchlow

Publisher: Pear Press

Published: 2015-04-21

Total Pages: 199

ISBN-13: 0996032657

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

When you’re a new parent, the miracle of life might not always feel so miraculous. Maybe your latest 2:00 a.m., 2:45 a.m., and 3:30 a.m. wake-up calls have left you wondering how “sleep like a baby” ever became a figure of speech—and what the options are for restoring your sanity. Or your child just left bite marks on someone, and you’re wondering how to handle it. First-time mom Tracy Cutchlow knows what you’re going through. In Zero to Five: 70 Essential Parenting Tips Based on Science (and What I’ve Learned So Far), she takes dozens of parenting tips based on scientific research and distills them into something you can easily digest during one of your two-minute-long breaks in the day. The pages are beautifully illustrated by award-winning photojournalist Betty Udesen. Combining the warmth of a best friend with a straightforward style, Tracy addresses questions such as: Should I talk to my pregnant belly / newborn? Is that going to feel weird? (Yes, and absolutely.) How do I help baby sleep well? (Start with the 45-minute rule.) How can I instill a love of learning in my child? (By using specific types of praise and criticism.) What will boost my child’s success in school? (Play that requires self-control, like make-believe.) My baby loves videos and cell-phone games. That’s cool, right? (If you play, too.) What tamps down temper tantrums? (Naming emotions out loud.) My sweet baby just hit a playmate / lied to me about un-potting the plant / talked back. Now what? (Choose one of three logical consequences.) How do I get through an entire day of this? (With help. Lots of help.) Who knew babies were so funny? (They are!) Whether you read the book front to back or skip around, Zero to Five will help you make the best of the tantrums (yours and baby’s), moments of pure joy, and other surprises along the totally-worth-it journey of parenting.


Brain Rules for Baby (Updated and Expanded)

Brain Rules for Baby (Updated and Expanded)

Author: John Medina

Publisher: Pear Press

Published: 2014-04-22

Total Pages: 338

ISBN-13: 0983263396

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

What’s the single most important thing you can do during pregnancy? What does watching TV do to a child’s brain? What’s the best way to handle temper tantrums? Scientists know. In his New York Times bestseller Brain Rules, Dr. John Medina showed us how our brains really work—and why we ought to redesign our workplaces and schools. Now, in Brain Rules for Baby, he shares what the latest science says about how to raise smart and happy children from zero to five. This book is destined to revolutionize parenting. Just one of the surprises: The best way to get your children into the college of their choice? Teach them impulse control. Brain Rules for Baby bridges the gap between what scientists know and what parents practice. Through fascinating and funny stories, Medina, a developmental molecular biologist and dad, unravels how a child’s brain develops – and what you can do to optimize it. You will view your children—and how to raise them—in a whole new light. You’ll learn: Where nature ends and nurture begins Why men should do more household chores What you do when emotions run hot affects how your baby turns out, because babies need to feel safe above all TV is harmful for children under 2 Your child’s ability to relate to others predicts her future math performance Smart and happy are inseparable. Pursuing your child’s intellectual success at the expense of his happiness achieves neither Praising effort is better than praising intelligence The best predictor of academic performance is not IQ. It’s self-control What you do right now—before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and through the first five years—will affect your children for the rest of their lives. Brain Rules for Baby is an indispensable guide.


Brain Health From Birth

Brain Health From Birth

Author: Rebecca Fett

Publisher:

Published: 2019-08-28

Total Pages: 320

ISBN-13: 9780999676134

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Raising a bright and happy child starts during pregnancy and early infancy, when small changes can have a big impact on brain development. By taking advantage of this golden window of opportunity--when millions of new brain cells are formed every single day--you can help support your child's IQ, language development, memory, attention span, and emotional regulation. Importantly, the same strategies that nurture these cognitive abilities can also help reduce the odds of autism and ADHD, conditions that now impact 1 in 10 children. Brain Health from Birth is your guide to this new scientific frontier, explaining which key nutrients may be missing from your prenatal supplement, how to reduce the odds of preterm birth, what to look for in a formula, how to support your baby's microbiome, and much more. With contributions from leading obstetricians and pediatricians, science writer Rebecca Fett (author of the bestselling fertility book It Starts with the Egg) brings you practical advice you can start applying today, to help your baby thrive.


What's Going on in There?

What's Going on in There?

Author: Lise Eliot

Publisher: Bantam

Published: 2010-06-16

Total Pages: 546

ISBN-13: 0307575381

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

As a research neuroscientist, Lise Eliot has made the study of the human brain her life's work. But it wasn't until she was pregnant with her first child that she became intrigued with the study of brain development. She wanted to know precisely how the baby's brain is formed, and when and how each sense, skill, and cognitive ability is developed. And just as important, she was interested in finding out how her role as a nurturer can affect this complex process. How much of her baby's development is genetically ordained--and how much is determined by environment? Is there anything parents can do to make their babies' brains work better--to help them become smarter, happier people? Drawing upon the exploding research in this field as well as the stories of real children, What's Going On in There? is a lively and thought-provoking book that charts the brain's development from conception through the critical first five years. In examining the many factors that play crucial roles in that process, What's Going On in There? explores the evolution of the senses, motor skills, social and emotional behaviors, and mental functions such as attention, language, memory, reasoning, and intelligence. This remarkable book also discusses: how a baby's brain is "assembled" from scratch the critical prenatal factors that shapebrain development how the birthing process itself affects the brain which forms of stimulation are most effective at promoting cognitive development how boys' and girls' brains develop differently how nutrition, stress, and other physical and social factors can permanently affect a child's brain Brilliantly blending cutting-edge science with a mother's wisdom and insight, What's Going On in There? is an invaluable contribution to the nature versus nurture debate. Children's development is determined both by the genes they are born with and the richness of their early environment. This timely and important book shows parents the innumerable ways in which they can actually help their children grow better brains.


Bumpin'

Bumpin'

Author: Leslie Schrock

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2019-12-17

Total Pages: 384

ISBN-13: 1982130458

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Prepare for pregnancy, birth, and the newborn months with this award-winning “thoroughly modern guide to pregnancy” (National Parenting Product Awards). Now in a new revised and expanded second edition, Bumpin’ will radically transform your pregnancy journey from overwhelmed and confused to one of confidence. With over a decade of experience advising women’s health care and technology companies, Leslie Schrock distills cutting-edge research and practical guidance into a comprehensive pregnancy guide—from conception through pregnancy into the first months with an infant. She also shares her own personal journey, including the curveballs she faced on the way. This second edition updates the evidence and includes even more practical advice from experts ranging from doulas, ob-gyns, midwives, therapists, prenatal trainers, nutritionists, and researchers so you can make the best decisions for your family. With a look at the science, it tackles pregnancy FAQs and topics like the truth about cleaning up your cosmetics, nutrition, exercise, and epidurals; and the practical, like putting together a baby budget and navigating work before and after birth. New sections in the fourth trimester after your baby arrives go deeper on breastfeeding and bottle feeding as well as sleep and recovery for you. Inside the second edition of Bumpin’ you will find: -A trimester-by-trimester overview from conception through the postpartum period and return to work -How to optimize your fertile window and getting pregnant -The truth about age, fertility, and managing any issues that arise -Miscarriage and assisted reproduction treatments like IVF -Guidance on diet, substance use, and exercise before and during pregnancy -The science behind your physical changes, leaks, sweats, and every other unexpected pregnancy symptom -Managing your mental health -Understanding what happens during birth and creating your birth preferences -Advice for partners, family members, and friends supporting your pregnancy -Budgeting, finance tips, baby registry, and hospital checklists -Updated research on infant feeding and lactation Warm, funny, and non-judgmental, Bumpin’ will leave you feeling prepared and ready to tackle anything that comes your way.


How to Have a Smarter Baby

How to Have a Smarter Baby

Author: Susan Ludington-Hoe

Publisher: Bantam

Published: 1987-05-01

Total Pages: 350

ISBN-13: 0553265415

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

15 minutes a day to a healther, happier, smarter baby Dr. Susan Ludington-Hoe’s internationally acclaimed Infant Stimulation Program has shown thousands of parents how to have healthier, happier, and smarter babies. In this important book, Dr. Ludington-Hoe shares with you the remarkable techniques and learning toys she developed and tested—with dramatic results—with parents and children. Stressing the development of a close and loving relationship between you and your child, she shows you what to do at every stage—during pregnancy, the first days after birth and the crucial first six months—to expand your joys in parenting and maximize your baby’s physical and mental potential. You’ll learn how to: • Plan a pregnancy diet to promote your baby’s brain growth • Design a nursery that will stimulate mental and physical development • Make and/or buy inexpensive toys to accelerate muscular and eye coordination • Tailor your program to your infant’s needs • Talk to baby in captivating ways that will encourage language development • Include father to bond the whole family in a relaxed, nurturing, and loving environment “An extremely clear treatise on infant development and the use of various toys and techniques designed for each stage.”—Los Angeles Times


Bond with Your Baby Before Birth

Bond with Your Baby Before Birth

Author: Kim O'Neill

Publisher: Health Communications, Inc.

Published: 2009-04

Total Pages: 290

ISBN-13: 0757307434

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Professional channel, author, and mother of two, gives pregnant women the tools they need to bond with their baby as much as possible before he or she physically gets here.


Discovering the Brain

Discovering the Brain

Author: National Academy of Sciences

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 1992-01-01

Total Pages: 195

ISBN-13: 0309045290

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The brain ... There is no other part of the human anatomy that is so intriguing. How does it develop and function and why does it sometimes, tragically, degenerate? The answers are complex. In Discovering the Brain, science writer Sandra Ackerman cuts through the complexity to bring this vital topic to the public. The 1990s were declared the "Decade of the Brain" by former President Bush, and the neuroscience community responded with a host of new investigations and conferences. Discovering the Brain is based on the Institute of Medicine conference, Decade of the Brain: Frontiers in Neuroscience and Brain Research. Discovering the Brain is a "field guide" to the brainâ€"an easy-to-read discussion of the brain's physical structure and where functions such as language and music appreciation lie. Ackerman examines: How electrical and chemical signals are conveyed in the brain. The mechanisms by which we see, hear, think, and pay attentionâ€"and how a "gut feeling" actually originates in the brain. Learning and memory retention, including parallels to computer memory and what they might tell us about our own mental capacity. Development of the brain throughout the life span, with a look at the aging brain. Ackerman provides an enlightening chapter on the connection between the brain's physical condition and various mental disorders and notes what progress can realistically be made toward the prevention and treatment of stroke and other ailments. Finally, she explores the potential for major advances during the "Decade of the Brain," with a look at medical imaging techniquesâ€"what various technologies can and cannot tell usâ€"and how the public and private sectors can contribute to continued advances in neuroscience. This highly readable volume will provide the public and policymakersâ€"and many scientists as wellâ€"with a helpful guide to understanding the many discoveries that are sure to be announced throughout the "Decade of the Brain."