Birth bonding and contact by Joy Wisdom

The contact between mother and child should not be interrupted immediately after birth.  Those few moments (30-60minutes) are very important. The first 15 minutes, when oxytocin is apparent and the love hormone is being released, are critical for bonding and recognition. 

Many trials have shown the benefits of a baby being left with mum to bond after birth. However because of the high levels of clinical intervention today, this no longer happens in many cases. 

o   Shown for mothers who received pethidine during the birth process, the baby showed signs of sedation after birth and did not suckle at all^[i].

Physical contact is essential

A small Canadian study found that increased parental carrying of infant within the first 3 months of life was associated with a substantial reduction in crying and fussing behaviour in firstborns. True especially at crucial times, such as at around 6 weeks old, when fretfulness late in the afternoon and evening revealed distress creeping in. Canadian research found increased physical contact created contentment in the infant.

Crying and infant distress

An infant’s crying can become excessive at times and this in itself can produce negative emotions in the mother, leading her to question her ability to cope.  When this happens, not only does the baby become more demanding (picking up on mum’s distress), but it also takes longer to calm and soothe, causing a vicious circle for both mum and baby.

Positive mothering care.

Giving infant a secure foundation, consistent and positive care has been provided by parents in the early days, infants are found to be more confident and better able to regulate their emotions. 

While young, an infant is unable to distinguish between temporary and long-term separation from mum and is more likely to experience distress and anxiety. 

Separation anxiety may form early in life.

It is a big world an newborn is born into. Bright lights, noise and lots of space. In womb infant has heard, sensed is mum and dad; knows their smell and touch instantly and recognises their voice tones.  Without this safety net of recognition they can become fretful, something which is, of course, only natural. Without the known factors infant becomes vulnerable and feels unsafe. Therefore picking up and carrying baby with you will reassure. Mothers know instinctively when something is not right and baby’s cry will also denote the different tones of distress, hungry and dirty nappy.

Our instinct has a helping hand.

When born, we have an etheric cord attached to us from our mother and this is our energy connection to her for the rest of our lives.  It is something that we cannot see with our eyes but can feel instinctively.  Bonding gives a stronger etheric connection to mum, dad, siblings and grandparents.

If we could see the etheric cord, it would look like a spiders strand, very fine but strong and made up of millions of energy particles.  By this connection, some know instinctively when their parents are hurt, injured or have died.

Usually it is a mum who has the strongest connection due to the interaction and bonding daily. Mum knows when there is something wrong with her child. This connection from giving birth creates an inbuilt intuition and, just like a fax machine, she knows ‘energetically’. 

The information is fed back to her, making her aware of the occurrence.

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^[i] Sally Goddard Blythe, ‘What Babies and Children really need’ Hawthorn Press Stroud. Glos.UK. 2008 (cited ref - Richard L and Aldade MO ‘Effects of delivery room routine on success of first breast feed’ Lancet 3/336 (8723) (1990):1105-7)