A maternal bond is a relationship between a mother and her child. While connected with pregnancy and childbirth. A maternal bond may also develop in cases where the child is unrelated, such as adoption.
Both physical and emotional factors impact the mother-child bonding process. In severance anxiety disorder a child becomes fearful. And nervous when away from a loved one, usually a parent or other caregiver. New mothers do not always experience instant love towards their children. Instead, the bond can increase over time. Bonds can take hours, days, weeks, or months to develop.
Maternal Bond: (Brief)
The maternal bond is typically the relationship between a mother and her child. There are hundreds of factors, physical and emotional, which affect the mother-infant bonding process.
Lots of new mothers do not always experience the “instantly-in-mother-love” emotions. Many believe that early bonding ideally improves response and sensitivity to the child’s needs. Bolstering the quality of the mother-baby relationship.
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Pregnancy
The maternal bond between a woman and her biological child usually begins to develop during pregnancy. The pregnant female adapts her lifestyle to suit the needs of the developing infant. At around 18 to 25 weeks, the mother begins to feel the fetus moving. Like seeing her child for the first time in an ultrasound scan. This experience typically influences the mother to feel more attached to her child.
The developing organism has some experience of the mother’s heartbeat and voice. And has the ability to respond to touch or movement. By the seventh month of pregnancy, two-thirds of women report a strong maternal bond with their unborn child.
Some mothers who did not want the pregnancy may not have a close relationship with the child. They are more likely to suffer from postpartum depression. Or other mental health problems and less likely to breastfeed.
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Childbirth
Childbirth is an occurrence that can increase the Maternal Bond. Factors such as a traumatic birth, the mother’s childhood, medical stress, lack of support. And the impact of a spouse or partner can weaken the bond.
The emotional bonding theory first appears in the mid-1970s. And by the 1980s has become an acceptable appearance. Soon, the process became analyze and study to the point of creating another term (Poor Bonding).
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Maternal Bond: (Love at first sight)
“Maternal Bond is indescribable.”
will say any mother who experienced this special kind of relationship with her child.
Many women start appearing this bond as early as they hear the first moment during an ultrasound. Or they finally feel that extraordinary movement in their tummies.
Other mothers – feel very bonded right after the birth.
There’s an unconscious opinion in our society that all mothers will bond with their babies. Unfortunately, some women have problems with maternal bonds.
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Maternal Bond: (Reasons)
Talking chemically, this hormone calles ‘oxytocin’ causes maternal bond. Scientists found that this hormone is very important for bonding.
As your pregnancy going to the end, the oxytocin levels increase dramatically and play huge role in your labor.
In order to produce natural oxytocin hormone you need to feel your baby being born. The pain caused by stretching means that baby is coming. Then your brain releases a dose of oxitocin to get ready to bond and fall in love with your baby. Keep in mind that use of medications will affect this special process.
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The reasons for not bonding
There are many reasons for not bonding with a child. Here are some of the most common ones:
- Problematic pregnancy
- Birth of early baby
- Difficulty delivery
- Mental, emotional, and physical well being
- Feeding afraid and confounded about taking care of a baby
- Anxiety over finance, relationship with a partner
- The mother did not have a strong bond with her baby
- Infant’s personality
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The “Golden” hour (post-birth) is priceless
Right after birth is the best time to bond with your baby. During the very first hour is when both mother. And the child is the most sensible to form an emotional chemical connection with each other.
It is perfect time to recover from difficult labor, to successfully start breastfeeding and of course-bond, bond, bond.
While many hospitals still require the baby to be moved to a more emotional, balanced, and steady, given vitamin K. And swaddled before being given to the mother The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) encourages mothers. To have as much skin-to-skin contact as possible within the first few minutes of a baby’s life.
According to Dr. Bob Sears this is how should normal first hour of baby’s life should look like.
- Healthy infacts should be placed immediately onto the mother’s abdomen or chest. When they are born and remain in direct skin-to-skin contact until the first feeding is accomplished.
- The nurse should perform the first physical assessment while the baby remains on the mother’s chest.
- Weighing, measuring, bathing, eye ointment and any injections or vlood tests should wait until after the first feeding.
- The baby should remain with the mother throughout the recovery period.
Babies thrive most when kept in close, skin-to-skin contact with mom from the very beginning.
So it is very important to plan your birth whether you are going to give birth at the hospital or at home. Maternal Bond Can happen much easier if it is done right from the beginning.
Oxytocin
Production of oxytocin during labor and lactation increases parasympathetic movement. Thus, anxiety is apparently reduced. The maternal oxytocin revolution is said to inspire women to bond and show bonding behavior, although this has been opposed.
Breastfeeding is also strongly believed to foster the bond, via touch, response and mutual gazing.
Maternal Bond: (Significance)
There is still much to learn about bonding. But it is very clear that the bond between a mother and a child plays a significant role in a child’s life.
- It will shape the baby’s first model for intimate relationships.
- It will provide him a sense of security and strong self-esteem.
A child who has a strong bond with his mother will have more self-confidence. This will help him be better in school, have more friends, make and achieve goals. Which will keep him out of struggle. Kids who have a strong bond with their mothers are less likely to do drugs or use alcohol.
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Ways to bond with baby
Take it easy. Maternal Bond will happen gradually while caring for your baby every day by:
- Sensitively responding to her/him cries
- Holding her/him
- Talking to her/him
- Interacting with her/him
- Playing with her/him
- Bathing her/him
- Feeding her/him
Your baby trusts you when you respond to her cries and happy moments. She knows you are there for her anytime. This will help her to grow. A Baby’s brain grows when you associate with her. Playing, singing, talking, touching help the baby’s brain to develop.
Baby massage is a process that will definitely help improve the maternal bond. When massaging a baby you can talk, laugh, find her sensitive spots.
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Final Words
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