18/12/2022
They're those days in our tender age when we used to believe that babies are bought in a supermarket and this stuck to our mind till we joined grade 6 where we learned the process of having a baby.
There’s another popular myth that suggests that a man and a woman are the ones that make the baby. This is so ridiculous that I’m surprised anyone has ever believed it. How would big people make small people? Big people may not be able to make babies, but, in general, big people are decent parents. That’s why they give them babies.
There is nothing amazing like knowing there is someone somewhere who will be part of you and who will change you to be a father or mother and who will need your care ,love,security and your attention.
"Being a family means you are a part of something very wonderful. It means you will love ❤ and be loved for the rest of your life", Lisa said.
Parents don't always feel a great rush of love and bonding straight away .It comes in time .Many parents have other feelings such as fear , excitement along with love especially if it's a first baby.It's what you do that counts.
"That first pregnancy is a long sea journey to a country where you don’t know the language, where land is in sight for such a long time that after a while, it’s just the horizon — and then one day birds wheel over that dark shape and it’s suddenly close and all you can do is hope like hell that you’ve had the right shots.” — Emily Perkins
For the unborn there are some attachments and bonding that they require in their world.This lays a foundation for them to feel safe and secure.
Ways to bond with your baby during pregnancy
Here are some things that might help you and your baby to start forming an attachment before birth.
Talk and sing to your baby, knowing he or she can hear you.
Gently touch and rub your belly, or massage it.Respond to your baby’s kicks. In the last trimester.Play music to your baby. Music that mimics a heartbeat of around 60 beats per minute, such as lullabies, is useful.
Give yourself time to reflect, go for a walk or have a warm bath and think about the baby. You may like to write a diary or stories to the baby about what you are experiencing.
Have an ultrasound. Seeing your baby moving inside the womb can be a poignant experience for parents, and can help them to bond with the baby since it can suddenly seem ‘real’.
Relax, look after yourself and try not to stress. Evidence shows that if a mother feels less stressed during her pregnancy, the health outcome for the baby is better. Your partner or a close friend may be helpful if you need someone to talk to.
If you are the baby’s father or other significant caregiver, here are some things you can do to help you become attached to the unborn baby.
Massage the baby bump if the baby’s mother is happy for you to do so.
Feel the baby kicking as often as you can.
Attend ultrasound appointments with the mother.
If you’re planning to be a support person at the birth, go to the prenatal classes, as well. Understand and discuss the birth plan with the baby’s mother and meet the maternity team. The more confidence you have in the pregnancy and birth process, the easier it will be for you to bond with the baby.
Read and talk with the baby so they get used to your voice.
Talk to other parents. Share your thoughts and feelings, and allow them to share theirs about their pregnancy and birth experience.
Older siblings can bond too
By preparing your toddler or child for the upcoming birth, you can help them to bond with the baby. This may involve talking to them about the baby, reading stories about pregnancy and babies, allowing them to touch your belly to feel the baby kicking, and preparing a gift together for them.
Sometimes, when you pick up your child, you can feel the map of your own bones beneath your hands, or smell the scent of your skin in the nape of his neck. This is the most extraordinary thing about motherhood — finding a piece of yourself separate and apart, that all the same, you could not live without.” — Jodi Picolt
