Tips to Help Dad-to-be to Bond With Bump
From morning sickness to nausea, kicks, and jabs to labor pains and finally birthing, a mother is intimately connected to baby. We tend to forget that although a father is not physically connected to the baby as a mother is, he too undergoes a complete transformation emotionally. He doesn’t have the hormonal drive like the mother which attaches her to the baby, but he has the same love, attachment, and longing to see the baby. With a growing belly, he sees the growing responsibilities and continuously works towards making everything smooth for his wife and arriving baby.
For a father-to-be, it’s important to find ways to get involved in the baby bonding experience so they, too, can feel that amazing connection with their babies from the start. There are many ways by which he can bond with the bump. Fathers, who concentrate on bonding with baby in the womb, make a little easier transformation to fatherhood once the baby is born.
● Accompany your wife do doctor visits. Be aware of medications and check-up routines. The details about the growth of the baby make you more connected to the baby. Be there with your wife every time doctor checks for the heartbeat of the fetus. You can feel the adrenaline rush in your body. There is no bigger happiness than to know about that baby in bump.
● There are four to five scans in the span of nine months. Try to be there during ultrasounds. You can see the baby growing in bump and the tiny feet, hands, ears, eyes and even little movements in the third trimester. You will feel more attached to a baby that you are able to see only in form of growing belly. Nowadays 4D sonogram technology is available, which shows a very clear picture of what is in the bump.
● Read and talk to the bump. It may be a book, story or newspaper. If not reading, simply talk to the baby. The more he hears your voice, the more comfortable he will be when you are around. Apart from mother’s voice, he will also be able to recognize and differentiate your voice from others. After being born your baby will then recognize your voice having already formed an attachment to you.
● Sing your favorite songs, you can feel the baby grooving in the womb. While sleeping sing lullabies to the bump, this will help you connect with the baby even before he arrives. After the baby is born, your same lullabies will be able to calm him down and help sleep.
● Feel the movements. It is one of the most exciting and fond memories for both mom and dad. Feel the kicks and twisting and turning of the baby inside the womb. Even if you miss it, you can gently push on the belly and if you are lucky, the baby will react with a movement.
● Support your partner. She is going through a lot of changes physically, emotionally and hormonally. Be there for her like solid support. Don’t let her worry over little things. Don’t counter-attack when she is having mood swings. The more you support her, the more she will feel relaxed and hence the baby in the womb will have positive vibes and will be a happy baby.
● Read books related to pregnancy and parenting. You will be able to connect more with all that is happening inside the womb and what are the developments going on with weeks and months passing by.
Dads relate to their children differently than moms do, but their connection to their children is no less important. For some men, feeling a close connection to their newborn baby takes time. But if you try and connect with the bump, the process becomes a little easier.
