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ABSTRACT: In the Western world, the beginnings of parenthood have been obscured by the pervasive materialism of medicine and psychology which doubts the cognitive status of neonates and denies the human aspects of fetal behavior. This has led to confusion about the nature of parenthood and when it begins. What is currently referred to as "early" parenting begins after birth and is at least nine months late. If discoveries in prenatal psychology are to be taken seriously, early parenting begins after conception and very early parenting begins before conception. These eras of parenting are new territories and are the first frontier of optimal human development.
INTRODUCTION
For most of us in the Western world, the real beginnings of parenthood have been obscured by a pervasive scientific materialism that assumes that newborns lack any cognition, ignores the human aspects of fetal behavior, supports an anti-intuitive urban culture, and mechanizes pregnancy and childbirth. According to the Institute of Medicine (1995) nearly 60% of all pregnancies in the United States are unintended-cither mistimed or altogether unwanted. In this society, many couples do not know they are pregnant until weeks after they have conceived. Parenthood is defined pragmatically: it starts whenever we say it starts. Pregnancy is typically seen as a "waiting" period for women "expecting" a future event. Pregnancy is a grace period (often thought to be free of consequences) when parents brace themselves for what they will face after their child's birth. Developments in the womb are caused by inscrutable forces which are considered automatic and are accepted passively.
While these views and behaviors characterize our society, a host of empirical findings prove that Western notions of new-parent behaviors are inappropriate and the ideas behind them are obsolete. Parenting is due for a thorough reassessment. Cultural illusions aside, When does parenthood begin? Perhaps it should begin when the baby begins, but when does a human begin? After birth, during gestation, or even before conception?
I. EARLY PARENTING BEGINS AFTER BIRTH
In our culture, the majority opinion is that parenthood starts after birth. This view has been fostered by medical scientists who define a baby as matter, especially brain matter, which they believe is insufficient to register or process memory, learning, trauma, emotion, or any truly...