Bonding with Your Baby: ♥️ From a Homesteading Doula 🌻🌼
Your daily interactions with your baby lay the foundation for their future. By meeting their needs, you’re teaching your little one to trust you. Their cry is their only way of communicating at this stage, and when parents respond and meet those needs, a loving, secure bond is formed. Your responsiveness, presence, and joyful interactions during the first three years will have a lasting impact on your baby’s brain development for the rest of their life.
Many expecting moms already start bonding with their babies before birth. The little kicks, hiccups, and wiggles can tug at a mother’s heartstrings. But once your baby is born, there are several ways to nurture that bond even further.
Skin-to-Skin
Immediately after birth, have your baby placed on your chest. (Be prepared for what your baby might look like—sometimes their heads are cone-shaped, and they may be covered in vernix and blood.) Holding your baby close helps regulate their temperature and allows them to initiate breastfeeding. After all the hard work of childbirth, you’ll be eager to meet your baby!
Talk and Touch Your Baby
Your baby already knows your voice. After going through the intense experience of birth, your soothing words and touch will be incredibly comforting. Gently count their fingers and toes. Your baby’s skin is their largest organ, and your touch will provide them with comfort and reassurance.
Make Eye Contact
Did you know that newborns can see clearly when they’re held in your arms? They can make eye contact with you, even in the first few hours. Use this time to bond by looking into their eyes during their alert periods after birth. It’s a simple yet powerful way to connect.
These early moments are not only comforting for both mama and baby, but they’re also essential for bonding. The act of holding, touching, talking to, and making eye contact with your baby helps your body produce oxytocin.
Why Does Oxytocin Matter?
Oxytocin, often called the "love hormone," is naturally produced by your body. It plays a crucial role in helping your uterus contract back to its normal size after birth and is responsible for milk production. This hormone also helps you bond with your baby, creating a sense of love and connection.
Why is Creating a Bond So Important?
Creating a bond with your baby builds trust. As your baby grows into a toddler, you’ll be there to kiss scraped knees and support them at school events. As they become a teenager, they’ll come to you for guidance and help. This trust forms the foundation of a confident, secure relationship that will last throughout their life.
By nurturing your baby now, you’re not just affecting their future—you’re impacting future generations. The bond you create will ripple through to your grandbabies and great-grandbabies, nurturing a stronger, more connected future.
