Well I am happy that the new word I learned today is something I can relate to my entire life but is especially helpful for me during those difficult parenting moments and will be helpful as I discuss newborn care as a doula.
The new word I learned today was (drum roll please): ENTRAINMENT
and I quote:
“Entrainment is a universal phenomenon, and it begins at the moment of conception. A baby’s rhythms begin to entrain with cosmic rhythms through the physiology of the mother. Throughout pregnancy, and even after the baby is born, the baby’s heart rate will entrain with the mother’s heart rate, and it keeps entraining as long as there is proximity to the mother. The heart rate may not be the same, but there is a rhythmic relationship between the two.” ~Deepak Chopra from Power, Freedom, and Grace
I have heard of the connection between mother and baby before but didn’t realize it had a word, so this is an exciting new term for me as a doula.
While I didn’t know the depth of this connection we all have to one another – I have intuitively known that if I am upset that I need to limit my interactions with people in general. When I feel “off” I often talk very little, limit my interactions with the kids and let them basically do whatever they want for the day. When I get back to what I consider “normal” then life resumes. Thankfully it doesn’t happen that often.
Now I get to see all the entrainment happening in my life…off I go!!
