Unborn babies can hear and react to sounds and stimuli from outside of the womb, the Ask Dr. Sears website reports. Because your emotions and feelings can also affect your baby, it is important to learn how to bond with her while she is still in utero. Doing so can help give your baby both confidence and a sense of relaxation after birth.
Step 1
Read to your tummy each night. Writing on Oprah Winfrey's website, Drs. Mehmet Oz and Michael Roizen explain that this not only helps you to bond with your unborn baby, it stimulates his brain development.
Step 2
Play music to your baby regularly. The Pregnancy Today website notes that your baby can hear many sounds, such as music, while your baby is in the womb. Because music can stimulate many emotions, sharing it with your child can be an efficient way to bond.
Step 3
Speak to your unborn baby often, and ask the baby's father or your life partner to do so, too. According to the BabyZone website, this can help the baby get used to the sounds of her mother's and father's voices --- and encourage you to interact with her daily.
Step 4
Sing to your baby as often as possible to encourage bonding. It doesn't matter what you sing --- your unborn baby won't understand the words anyway.
Tips and Warnings
- Let your baby decide what he wants to hear in utero. Pregnancy Today explains that your baby may react differently to different kinds of music. For instance, he may kick or roll when he hears an up-tempo song. Whether you play Beethoven or something more contemporary, make sure your baby enjoys it.
- The Ask Dr. Sears site warns that your emotional well-being can affect your ability to bond with your unborn baby --- and that emotional turmoil can have dangerous side effects. Distress or anxiety that is quickly resolved does not tend to harm an unborn baby, ut extreme stress and unresolved emotional disturbance can lead to premature birth, low birth weight and an anxious newborn. Some mothers under extreme distress may also attempt to hurt an unborn baby physically. Contact a doctor or psychiatrist for help, particularly if you feel like harming yourself or your child. He may be able to suggest a therapy or medication safe for use during pregnancy.
Things You'll Need
- Books
- Music
