Time to Bond with Your Baby... Dads Included!

Make the most of bonding with your baby with these ideas and start creating memories now.

- Sue-Ann Baumgartel

Nine marsupial months are over.The pre-delivery anxieties and mental preparations are replaced with huge relief and physical exhaustion. Like a magician putting a coin into his top hat — ta-dah! — in the blink of an eye, out pops a white rabbit. Your bump is now a baby. Add to that sleep deprivation and hormones that change with every breath you take, and you may well wonder how you are even going to drive a car responsibly, let alone look after a tiny baby.

It is time to take a step back and put on the brakes. Some women fall in Love at first scan, connecting instantly with the little multiplying mass of cells in their womb. Others who have played it cool during their pregnancy, find themselves overwhelmed at birth by the intensity of their love, which was always there waiting to be given voice; whilst others simply need more time. The time after giving birth is a period of adjusting and embracing change, and finding a new outlook that suits your family’s needs and lifestyle. Here are a few simple ideas to try and incorporate into your new routine.

Skin-to-skin Contact

Numerous studies have highlighted the positive importance of skin-to-skin contact. During the hours following a successful birth, direct skin contact between mother and newborn has many advantages. The baby’s body temperature is steadier, latching on and breastfeeding is more likely to be easier, and the baby is comforted naturally. Skin-to-skin contact can also help stabilise a premature baby’s development. This close contact can also be encouraged beyond the delivery room — so, make the most of Singapore’s weather and let your baby enjoy your closeness.

Breastfeeding