Building Relationships

Question 1

What is produced in response to stress?

Answer 1

Cortisol

Question 2

What effect does prolonged exposure to cortisol have on the fetus?

Answer 2

It has a negative effect on growth and brain development (Graignic Phillippe et al., 2014)

Question 3

What can counteract cortisol?

Answer 3

Oxytocin

Question 4

What strategies can mothers use to increase oxytocin?

Answer 4

Stroke and talk to her bump;
Sing read or talk to her baby;
Encourage partners and siblings to talk to the baby;
Notice when the baby is active and respond by talking and stroking;
Talking positively about the baby and giving them a name or nick name
Imagining what the baby will look like

Question 5

When does brain development begin in the fetus?

Answer 5

In pregnancy

Question 6

Why is it important to keep talking to babies?

Answer 6

Because it stimulates and activates the synapses between neurons and repeated use strengthens it.

Question 7

Which part of the brain is underdeveloped in an infants brain?

Answer 7

The neocortex which is responsible for rational thought and creative thinking

Question 8

Which system controls behaviour in infants?

Answer 8

The limbic system (which controls basic emotion, fear and pleasure)

Question 9

Which systems control the limbic system?

Answer 9

The autonomic nervous, hormonal and muscular (somatic) systems

Question 10

Can infants rationalise their feelings of fear or distress?

Answer 10

No

Question 11

Why should parents respond to their infants cries?

Answer 11

To provide comfort which helps the infant cope with emotions

Question 12

Why is it important for parents to be caring and provide comfort?

Answer 12

To help infants learn to manage their emotions so they don’t remain in a state of hyper-arousal which results in prolonged high levels of cortisol

Question 13

Which study suggests prolonged levels of cortisol have a long-term impact on memory and reduced cognition, attention deficit and behavioural problems.

Answer 13

Letourneau et al., 2011

Question 14

How can parents help reduce cortisol in infants?

Answer 14

Cuddling/comforting when they cry;
frequent skin to skin contact
offering the breast for comfort as well as nutrition;
keeping the baby close;
touching, massaging and rocking the baby;
talking to the baby.

Question 15

What hormone will help to reduce high cortisol levels?

Answer 15

Oxytocin

Question 16

What actions can the mother do when the baby is born to counter high levels of pregnancy cortisol?

Answer 16

Prolonged and frequent skin-to-skin contact will help to calm both mother and infant and increase levels of oxytocin.