Figuring out how to bond with your baby while pregnant can be beneficial not only for your state of heart and mind, but also beneficial for the health of your growing baby. Here are a few ways you can connect with your little unborn bean!
You don’t have to wait until you’re holding your baby in your arms in order to bond with them. The process to connect with your little one can start while you are pregnant!
Some of you may be wondering how you are supposed to connect with an unborn human, while others may have a few ideas of how to do this.
The ways to bond are simple!
And honestly, it naturally starts on its own without you even having to do a thing. But, if you want to be more mindful and more intentional when it comes to creating a more purposeful bond, here are some simple things you can do!
This post is all about how to bond with your baby while pregnant.
HOW TO BOND WITH YOUR BABY WHILE PREGNANT
Talk to them
At around 9 weeks of pregnancy, the fetus starts to form ears, and by 18 weeks, your baby can start to hear. The sounds they hear at this time are the ones from inside of your body, like your heart beat. They listen to the air moving in your lungs, they hear when your tummy growls, and they even pick up on the sound of blood as it moves through the umbilical cord.
Now, by the time you hit 25-26 weeks, your baby will start to respond to those noises and voices they hear from outside of your body.
However, since they are inside of your belly, sounds are a bit muffled. I mean, there’s so many layers! There’s skin and fat and muscle and bone, not to mention all of the amniotic fluid surrounding their little bodies. I imagine it’s similar to listening to sounds while you are under water at the swimming pool. Sounds are obstructed. Muted.
Except for your voice.
Your voice is not only the sound that they hear most clearly, but they hear it the most often and will learn to recognize it the best. The sound of you brings them comfort and familiarity. And when your baby is born, you will notice how they turn their little head towards you when they hear your voice outside of the womb.
They are your new best friend, so talk to them like you would your best friend 🙂
Sing or play music
There have been studies that have found that “when pregnant women sing to their babies or listen to music on loudspeakers during their pregnancy, babies are born with a better ability for neuronal encoding of speech sounds.”
So, it doesn’t matter if you are garbage at singing, your baby doesn’t care! Softly sing them lullabies or belt your favorite songs. And if you really don’t want to sing, play music for them.
If you are familiar with an instrument, expose your unborn baby to the sound of the instrument that you play, whether it’s the piano, the guitar, a violin, etc.
You can also turn on music, playing fun Disney soundtracks or your personal Spotify playlist. Listen to a variety of genres so your little one hears them all! Yes, even country music! Don’t bash it till you try it!
Read books out loud
This activity falls under the category of reading and singing to your baby since it is voice-focused. It helps your baby to learn the sound of your voice and recognize who you are. Your soothing tones can physically lower your baby’s heart rate while also establishing auditory bonds which can even carry on after birth.
Reading books to them is a cute way to spice things up, even though they can’t see the pictures. But maybe this is your time to read books that you want to read. Because once they are born, you might be stuck reading Dr. Seuss for a while. Now’s the time to get some novels in 🤣
Listen to their heartbeat at home
My husband and I purchased this fetal stethoscope so we could listen to our baby’s heartbeat while we were at home. It was so fun to just sit on the couch or lie in bed with the little thump in our ears.
We weren’t able to hear our baby until I was around 20 weeks pregnant, and it can be tricky to use.
Okay- tricky is an understatement.
Using a fetal stethoscope is FREAKING HARD in the beginning, especially if you don’t have a background in the medical field. Which I don’t. Hah! Just dental 😛 So it took some patience and time to figure out this handheld contraption.
Related Post: How To Use A Fetoscope: A Step-By-Step For Beginners
But once we figured it out, we loved having it, and it helped create some really sweet memories! Out of all these activities on how to bond with your baby while pregnant, this one is personally a top favorite of mine. There’s nothing like hearing their little fast heart beating so close to your own.
You just want to be aware that it can be hard to find your baby’s heartbeat at times due to your baby’s position or you mistake sounds from your own body for your baby’s. Especially when you use it for the first time. It’s helpful to have someone with experience show you how it works and help you decipher all of the sounds.
Some people use a fetal doppler at home, which is also something to consider.
There are some concerns with using these tools. There’s not much research claiming that these tools are unsafe, however, doctors don’t want you to assume that your baby is healthy just because you do or don’t hear their heartbeat. They say that it can create a false sense of security, when in reality, something could be seriously wrong.
So, talk to your doctor and get their opinion about your use of a stethoscope or doppler. Understand the precautions and the things to look for. Take note of how you feel and notice if your baby is moving regularly or not. If something feels off, seek medical attention. You want to make sure you and your baby are safe during your pregnancy.
Massage your belly
Massaging that growing belly is always the answer. And it’s always the right time. Ha!
As you massage your tummy, your baby will respond to your touch and wiggle around in the womb. Maybe they will throw some punches or do some karate kicks. They might even do flips and somersaults!
When they nudge you, gently nudge them back. Let them know you are there and that you feel them. It becomes a little game- I poke you, you poke me 🙂
A belly massage also releases oxytocin, which is a powerful hormone that can connect you and your baby even more. Talk to them while you touch your belly so they hear your voice. Let the massage relax and calm you, which can help with any stress and anxiety you may be feeling. Take deep breaths.
And for an even extra bonus? Use your pregnancy lotion or oil while you massage your belly, which not only makes the massage more smooth, but also prevents stretch marks. Bonding with your baby while relieving stress while also preventing stretch marks??? Win, win, win!
Dance
Moving is a simple way to stimulate your little one within the womb, and dancing is a great way to do so! Dancing can elevate your mood as a mother, which your baby can feel. If you feel good, your baby feels extra good!
There are pregnancy safe dance classes you can take in person or online. Youtube is a wonderful source that’s free and convenient. But hey! Let’s not overlook the benefits of simply dancing at home in your kitchen!
Say their name or Give them a Nickname
When you talk to your baby, think about something to call them by. If you have an actual name picked out already, then perfect! Let them hear their own name while you talk to them. It might make for an easier transition when they are born, since you would have already been calling them by their name months before the due date.
If you don’t have a name picked out (don’t worry, I didn’t! I wanted to see my baby first), you can just choose a nickname! There are tons to choose from, or you and your significant other can create one based on an experience or inside joke, etc.
A nickname is a great option because you don’t have to know the gender of your baby. Many nicknames aren’t gender specific.
Some quick examples are…
Pregnancy Journal
Take some time to write in a journal about your experiences being pregnant. You can make a goal to write in it daily or weekly, or just write whenever you want to feel more connected to your little nugget.
Write about how you are feeling, what you are learning, thoughts you have about them or questions you have about them/for them. Write about the things your baby does and memorable moments you have with them. You can read your entries out loud to your little one, and after they are born, it can become a keepsake for the two of you.
I was horrible at writing in my pregnancy journal, but looking back, I wish I would have been better at it. I promise that you will love reading back through those entries!
Antenatal yoga (prenatal yoga)
Prenatal yoga can provide a great way to connect physically and emotionally with your growing baby. It is quiet, calming, and safe for most pregnancies.
Taking time just once a week to focus on your pregnancy experience and the baby inside of you can create a stronger bond between the two of you. As you take deep breaths, remember that you are breathing for two.
There are also many benefits to yoga when it comes to the process of labor and delivery. “Yoga is intended to create a balance between emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual dimensions. Prenatal yoga is about helping you prepare for childbirth by relaxing the body and focusing on safe techniques and poses in all stages of pregnancy.”
Let’s Wrap This Up
If you aren’t sure about how to bond with your baby while pregnant, try these tips above. Don’t wait until your baby is born before you start bonding with them. Start when you are pregnant! Doing little things, like singing, dancing, belly rubs, and more, will create a foundation for your relationship with this little human of yours. This transformation should make your heart feel warm and should make you feel magical!
Realize that there are so many small moments you can have with your unborn baby that will make it that much sweeter when you get to hold them in your arms for real life. Take advantage of them now! They won’t be in your belly forever.
This post was all about how to bond with your baby while pregnant.
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