Simple Ways to Strengthen the Maternal Bond with Your Baby
In the last few decades we have discovered how very essential it is to ensure a strong maternal bond between mother and baby, and starting well before the newborn has even made their debut. Although there is usually a level of a natural, maternal connection or bond that most mothers feel the instant their baby has arrived, or even during the pregnancy, many are still unsure as to how to enhance this ever important bond.
Here are a few simple ways to strengthen the maternal bond between you and your baby, even before the joyous day of their arrival.
Strengthening the Maternal Bond During Pregnancy
Stimulate the Growing Baby
Soothing music, particularly classical, provides an unborn baby with a harmonious environment that’s conducive to healthy growth and development. However, some studies have indicated that many unborn babies actually prefer the sound of their own mother’s voice singing to them over any type of music, or musical toy meant to soothe and calm. Now’s the perfect time to learn all of the words to different lullabies, if you haven’t already, and then practice singing to strengthen the maternal bond with your unborn baby.
Frequently and gently massaging the belly is sure to cause a reaction from baby, such tiny kicks or movements, the strength of which will of course depend on how far along the pregnancy is. Many are also surprised to learn that unborn babies are also able to respond to bright lights in addition to touch and sound.
Relax and Connect with Baby
Meditation is a good way of connecting with the baby, relaxing and focusing on the movements from within the womb. Yoga is also helpful for preparing and strengthening the body for birth, and also for providing relaxation and a way to relieve stress and tension.
Hear Baby’s Heartbeat
Thanks to technological advances in prenatal care, it’s now possible to begin bonding with your unborn baby as early as 11 to 12 weeks into the pregnancy. Using a fetal doppler monitor at home, either one that’s rented or purchased for your own use, parents-to-be can hear their baby’s heartbeat using a handheld device that uses ultrasound waves to project the sound of baby’s heartbeat through either an ear piece, or a detached speaker.
While not suitable for monitoring a high-risk pregnancy, the fetal heart doppler not only provides parents with a memorable experience, but also helps to alleviate common fears during the pregnancy.
Strengthening the Maternal Bond After Baby Arrives
Make Eye Contact
Very soon after birth, babies are able to make and maintain eye contact, follow movements, and recognize familiar faces. As often as possible, make eye contact with baby, watch as they follow your movements and respond to your voice. Just simply gazing into your baby’s eyes as they stare lovingly back at you can be a moving experience that reinforces the bond of love between the two of you.
Baby Massage
For centuries, many cultures have taken advantage of the profound effects the sense of touch has on a newborn baby and have used baby massage as an important, and regular part of child care. A baby massage is an excellent way of not only strengthening the maternal bond and helping baby to feel better, but it may also be useful for decreasing a new mother’s postpartum depression as well. Using soft, slow circular movements, unlike those associated with an adult massage, gently start with baby’s feet, maintaining eye contact while talking to them in a soft voice.
Sing to Baby
Continuing to sing to baby after they’ve been born will also strengthen the maternal bond between mother and child, and many babies will recognize certain songs they’ve heard from within the womb. They’ve been hearing the soothing sound of your voice for the past several months already, and have grown accustomed to its familiar tones. Research also suggests that mothers who sing, read, or talk frequently to their babies encourage mental development and actually help them to learn how to talk and read themselves at an earlier age.