ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — Research has long proved that interacting with your child is important for their development. But now a new study shows that the connection between mom and baby while the baby is in the womb may be just as important.
There are a lot of things to do to get ready for that special arrival. New research suggests that connecting with your baby before he or she is born may help the mom and baby bond. Researchers from the University of Cambridge conducted 14 studies with over 1,800 parents and their infants. They found that mothers who have positive and realistic feelings about their baby before he or she is born are more likely to have positive interactions with their infant later on, such as responding appropriately to their child’s needs and demonstrating warmth in their interactions with their child.
Research suggests sensitive and responsive relationships have encouraging outcomes as kids get older. Positive parent-child interactions have been linked to better memory, problem-solving, language, and social skills.
Some things that researchers found can influence parents’ connection with their unborn child include prior loss, pregnancy complications, or cultural expectations. Most of the studies were focused on the mother’s relationship with the baby.
Contributors to this news report include: Cyndy McGrath, Supervising Producer; Milvionne Chery, News Producer; Roque Correa, Editor.
Produced by Child Trends News Service in partnership with Ivanhoe Broadcast News and funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation.
