It’s often assumed that bonding with a baby begins when you first hold them in your arms. However, a bond with a baby can be developed as early as when the baby bump appears. Many people would concentrate on how to bond with a baby while breastfeeding, forgetting that it can respond to different things while in the womb. The point of beginning the process earlier is to ensure that when you bring him/her into this world, they’ll already have known you and are familiar with several things about you.
To get to know how to bond with your baby in the womb, it’s best if you become attentive to what the baby is saying or doing. Many expectant moms fancy the evident kicks from babies in their bumps since it is something very significant to them. However, it goes beyond that as the bonding can be affected by a lot of things that cause different reactions to the baby.
What are Babies Responsive to During Pregnancy?
To begin with, it’s of importance to know what babies respond to while in the womb. A mother can’t bond with the baby if she does not pay attention to the response of the baby and what makes them react. Some of the things that babies experience while in the womb include:
Sound
From 18 weeks in the pregnancy, a baby can notice sounds such as your heartbeat and when your stomach rumbles. It is a process of growth that indicates that the baby has particular senses. At around week 26, a baby in the womb can begin to notice noises outside the body from the neighboring surrounding. It’s when the baby begins to notice the voice of the mother and at this stage moving forward in pregnancy, the baby can be soothed by particular voices and cry when there are uncomfortable noises.
Memory
Babies become receptive to particular sounds, and at particular moments they might remember these voices either from a conversation or certain music.
Sensation
In different stages of the pregnancy, babies may react to particular things. At week 18, the baby can be made to sleep while the mother is moving around since the swaying makes them comfortable. From week 22, they can feel pain, and 26 weeks onwards they can respond to hand movements done on the baby bump.
Language development
At week 32, a baby may be familiar with particular sounds from the conversations that you have with people which includes vowels.
Sight
Eye development begins at week 20 and from the 22 weeks, a baby can see light. However, proper development of the baby’s eyes begins from birth.
Bonding Methods to Use
There are different approaches to take when bonding with a baby. It also depends on who wants to do so since it will affect when you bond with your baby. Different bonding techniques should be used at different times of the pregnancy since the baby can only respond to particular things at particular times. So how do different individuals bond with a baby?
Mother
The mother has the upper hand in forming a strong bond with the baby since she can notice several reactions that the baby makes. It is also because the baby will learn a lot from the mother than it ever will from anyone else during pregnancy. For mothers seeking such a connection, you need to first take good care of yourself and have products such as the best alkaline water pitcher at mykitchenadvisor.com to help you with that.
Here are more tips on how to bond with baby in pregnancy:
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- Talking to and singing for your baby to make the baby familiar with your voice.
- Massaging or gently rubbing your belly bump for the baby to know your touch.
- Play calming or relaxing music to your baby that will be similar to your heartbeats and play as lullabies.
- Get an ultrasound so that you can see your baby which will give you a greater connection such that when you are doing anything to get their attention you have a picture of how the baby might respond.
- Do things such as enjoying a walk or getting a warm long bath so that you can calm yourself as you think and connect with the baby.
- Responding to kicks is a significant way of bonding with your baby. By either massaging the point of kicks or rubbing the place smoothly can cause the baby to do multiple ones.
Father and Siblings
Other than the mother, a father and siblings also have ways on how to bond with the baby in the first trimester. Some of the approaches that they can make to develop the bond include;
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- Massaging the baby bump if given the chance and the mother is comfortable with it.
- Take the mother to all the ultrasound appointments.
- Talk and read things to the baby to make them familiar with your voice.
- Experience all the baby kicks.
You never have to wait until you bond with a newborn since the process can begin earlier. Some of the other things to do are to also consider your health by drinking pure water which helps with preventing health issues such as preventing urinary infections, relieving indigestion and acidity issues. Bonding with your baby during pregnancy is important since when they are born you will begin from somewhere and it is also important since they will be familiar with you.
How old is your pregnancy? Are you seeking ways of bonding with your baby? What do you do towards that? Leave a comment.
Author Bio
Lora is a blogger, mother, and housewife who shares her vast experience on all the aspects of pregnancy and parenting. She writes articles on the difficulties and challenges all mothers face every day. Motherhood is her source of inspiration.
