by Dr Bronwyn Leigh
Bonding with Baby — Pregnancy Edition for Mums
Most pregnant mums find they entertain their own private wonderings about baby and start to develop a way of communicating with baby as the pregnancy progresses. These reflections are personal and unique to you. There is no right or wrong.
Getting to know your baby happens over time.
Here are some tips for feeling connected and caring with your baby.
- Track your baby’s development with a weekly tracker. This helps you to follow their development and helps you hold them in mind.
- Consider the ways you provide protection and meet his/her needs, through good nutrition, exercise, rest, cleansing breaths, sending warm loving feelings, thinking about them.
- Interacting with your baby when s/he kicks, moves or hiccups helps you feel connected. Take pleasure and delight in these things when you can. Pause for a moment and lean into a soft joy.
- Try taking slow, calm breaths in a mindful way while holding a hand on your belly. You can also place one hand on your heart. Try a pregnancy meditation if it appeals to you.
- If you are partnered, help your partner to feel connected and caring towards baby by talking about the physical sensations you experience when baby moves, kicks, hiccups. In this way, you act as a bridge between your partner and baby, helping them get to know each other through you.
- Stay Curious: Try to be curious and wondering about your baby, even though you can’t be sure who they are yet.
If you are not yet feeling excited about baby, or your warm feelings toward baby haven’t activated yet, don’t worry, there’s time. Focus on the protective things you are doing for baby – that means you are acting as a caring Mum, and that is part of bonding with baby. If you are feeling worried about your feelings towards baby in pregnancy, reach out to us, we can help.
About the Author
Dr Bronwyn Leigh is a clinical psychologist, perinatal and infant clinician and early parenting consultant. She is the Director of the Centre for Perinatal Psychology. Bronwyn is an expert in the psychological aspects of becoming a parent, the emotional development of infants, and parent-infant relationships.
