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You got the news that you’re pregnant and you’re now excited. You experience a rush of emotions. In one minute, you feel excited, happy, nervous, worried, and overwhelmed. In nine months you have a baby. One that you created. As exciting as that sounds, it also puts you in a state of impatience. Why? Because now you have to wait for nine whole months to hold your baby, but what’s beautiful is that you don’t have to wait that long to be able to experience a baby. There are many ways in which you and your partner can connect with your baby even when it’s in your womb. Here are a few ways that will help you bond with your baby bump so you don’t have to wait for nine months:
1. Sing
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One of the most effective ways to bond with your baby is by singing to it. The sound of your voice soothes your baby and it may even recognize the songs you sing to it once it’s born. Lullabies or soothing, calm sounds may have a soothing effect on your baby. Studies have shown that a fetus develops auditory senses anywhere between 19 to 35 weeks (1).
2. Music
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You could use a prenatal music belt or simply play music out loud and your baby will be able to hear the vibrations of the music. In the 1990s, playing classical music to your bump was popularized and many pregnant women did this to bond with their baby.
3. Dance
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Gentle movements help you bond with your baby. In the third trimester, babies start to kick often and while dancing you can feel your babies’ movements too. This is a great way to feel in sync with your baby. Besides, dancing will make you feel good and when you feel good, so does your baby.
4. Read
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Since babies develop their hearing as early as 19 weeks, reading to them might make them love books at an early age. It’s a great way to bond with your baby and familiarize him/her with your voice. When dads and moms read to their baby in the womb, it establishes an auditory bond that lasts even after birth. A mother’s voice is soothing to the baby that it may also lower the fetal heart rate of your baby (2).
5. Talk
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Talking to babies in the womb not only familiarizes them with your voice but also makes them learn languages. Research has shown that babies begin learning language patterns even before they are born. It’s a great way to foster social interaction and develop strong bonds with your baby while still in the womb (3).
6. Involve The Family
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You and your partner might be regularly talking to your baby bump but it’s a good idea to include your family too. The more your baby listens to the voice of its siblings, cousins, grandparents, and relatives, the faster it will be able to recognize their voices after being born (4).
7. Yoga
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Many women sign up for prenatal yoga classes because it increases overall pregnancy wellness. It focuses on poses that are beneficial to pregnant women that help them increase strength and flexibility. Studies have also shown that it helps practice relaxing breathing techniques that induce comfortable labor and help promote your baby’s health (5). It’s also a great way for you to meet other pregnant mothers and build a bond with them.
8. Swimming
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For all of you who love water, don’t let pregnancy stop you from swimming away in happiness. It is a recommended form of exercise and is quite popular because the water supports the extra weight. It is considered safe and helps bond with your baby too (6).
9. Prenatal Massage
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Who doesn’t love a good massage? Pregnant women experience muscle and joint pain because of the excess weight of the baby. A soothing prenatal massage not only helps the mother but also relaxes the baby. It helps reduce stress, anxiety, and even improve labor outcomes (7).
From the time you get the news that you’re pregnant to the time you give birth to your baby, you and your partner are living in excitement and anticipation. And while you wait to hold your precious newborn baby in your arms, you could bond with it while it’s still inside its haven. Comment below and let us know what techniques you have tried.
