The Importance of Maternal/Infant Bonding

The Importance of Maternal Infant Bonds

By: Cassandra Wood

Introduction

Many children lack the strong bonds with their parents that should have been achieved as infants. Attachment, in its simplest description, is the developed relationship between a parent and their infant that is both emotionally positive and mutually rewarding. Comparably, bonding can be described as more of a process, where the parents and the infant/child discover they are special and important to one another. Early researchers believed there to be an optimal period in time for bonding or attachment to occur; a period existing immediately after birth. Many researchers of this theory liked to use goslings as examples of this optimal period. "It is mentioned that goslings, like chickens and ducks, form an attachment to the first thing they see. This is known as imprinting" (Tomlin 2008).

Importance of Bonds

While it is true the time immediately after birth is critical, it isn’t the only time when a secure bond can be made. It is extremely important that mothers take the time to pay attention to the cues of their infant. Although a mother may love her infant, that does not mean that she and her infant have a secure bond; building a secure bond with your infant takes work. “Even in the first days of life, your baby picks up on your emotional cues—your tone of voice, your gestures, and your emotions—and sends you signals by crying, cooing, mimicking facial expressions, and eventually smiling, laughing, pointing, and even yelling, too. In return, you watch and listen to your baby’s cries and sounds, and respond to their cues, at the same time as you tend to their need for food, warmth, and affection”(Robinson, Saisan, Smith & Segal, 2015). When an infant or child has a strong and secure bond with their parent or caregiver, most often the mother, they tend to be more independent as they mature into adults. Together, John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth developed the attachment theory. Bowlby points out that "a well-loved child is quite likely to protest separation from parents, but will later develop more self-reliance" (Bowlby in Bretherton, 1992).

Not Forming Secure Bonds

If a child and their parent don't achieve a secure bond with each other, there could be dire consequences. Just as early researchers were referring to goslings for the optimum period, they also refer to cows and goats as examples of the downfall of not being able to achieve a bond during this important time frame. They take note of how mammal species such as cows and goats may reject their young and refuse to let them nurse if they are separated at birth (Tomlin, 2008). In a podcast by Tony Madrid, Ph.D., he mentions how a woman had a young daughter; even though she had carried the daughter in her womb for nine months and it was her own biological daughter, she felt no love towards her. He attributed this to the fact that when she had just given birth to her baby, the doctor and nurses took the baby away immediately and she was not able to achieve a secure bond or attachment in the optimum period. Normally a woman should be allowed to hold her baby and nurse it immediately after birth, so as to ensure this bond takes place. In an attempt to correct this, he hypnotized the woman and just asked her to reimagine or picture the birth of her daughter and her actually being able to hold her immediately after. As soon as they were done with their session, she immediately felt a new, strong love for her daughter that she had been missing. However, the lack of mother infant interaction immediately after birth isn’t a problem anymore, due to doctors having the newly born infant nurse in order to stimulate breast milk production and cause the uterus to contract so to prevent excessive bleeding. A main reason now as to why it may be difficult for mothers to bond with their babies is post-partum depression, which is a form of depression that occurs after a mother gives birth and is usually due to hormonal changes and fatigue. “In a very interesting discussion section, the authors point out that while many studies demonstrate that postpartum depression is associated with a risk of poorer cognitive and behavioral development of the child, it is not clear to what extent poor bonding contributes to this phenomenon. In a study using video to analyze the interactions between mothers and their infants at 2 months of age, Murray and colleagues found that depressed mothers were more likely to have problems interacting with their babies”(MGH Center For Women's Mental Health, 2013). Together, John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth developed the attachment theory. In Mary Ainsworth's study "it turned out that secure attachment was significantly correlated with maternal sensitivity. Babies of sensitive mothers tended to be securely attached, whereas babies of less sensitive mothers were more like to be classified as insecure. Mother's enjoyment of breast-feeding also correlated with infant security" (Ainsworth in Bretherton, 1992). Even though depression can have a devastating effect on the bond between a mother and her infant, it can be prevented or even reversed by techniques such as:

·        “There is also the very interesting work coming out of Tiffany Field’s group. Interaction coaching has been developed to help mothers improve their interactions with their babies by providing video feedback and giving them second-by-second suggestions as interactions occur (see Field 2006). These interventions have been shown to be effective in reducing depressive symptoms in the mother and improving the quality of interactions between the mother and her infant” (MGH Center for Women's Mental Health, 2013).

·        “Field has also demonstrated that teaching depressed mothers to massage their infants has resulted in less irritability and fewer sleep problems in the infants and better mother-infant interactions, as well as a reduction in the mothers’ depressive symptoms” (Goldstein-Ferber in MGH Center For Women's Mental Health, 2013).

Although some mothers may overlook it, it is very important that they not only take care of their infants but also themselves. Sleep is very important and getting enough sleep can help lesson stress significantly. Also, do not be afraid to ask for help taking care of your infant and taking some time away from your infant can relieve stress detrimentally.

Conclusion

It is very important that we allow not only our farm animals to have the time immediately after birth to start the development of a secure bond, but that we also provide this time for our fellow humans. Not just bonds and attachments, but secure bonds and attachments are important to our infants and children’s growth. A strong bond will help an infant grow up to be an independent individual. “A secure bond provides your baby with an optimal foundation for life: eagerness to learn, healthy self-awareness, trust, and consideration for others.”(Robinson, Saisan, Smith & Segal, 2015)

References

Bretherton, I. (n.d.). The origins of attachment theory: john bowlby and mary ainsworth. (1992) ''Developmental Psychology. ''Retrieved from http://www.psychology.sunysb.edu/attachment/online/inge_origins.pdf

MGH Center for Women's Mental Health. (2013). Postpartum depression and bonding difficulties: different but interrelated problems. ''MGH Center for Women's Mental Health. ''Retrieved from http://womensmentalhealth.org/posts/postpartum-depression-bonding-difficulties-separate-interrelated-problems/

Nuys, V [Producer]. (2007). Tony madrid on repairing broken maternal/infant bonds [Personal interview]. ''mentalhealth.net. ''Retrieved from http://podbay.fm/show/218827921/e/1198079580?autostart=1

Reporter, D. (2014). FOUR out of 10 babies do not form a strong enough bond with their parents - and it affects them for life! dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2598497/FOUR-10-babies-not-form-strong-bond-parents-affects-life.html

Robinson, L., Saisan, J., Smith, M., & Segal, J. (2015). How to build a secure attachment bond with your baby. HelpGuide.org. Retrieved from http://www.helpguide.org/articles/secure-attachment/how-to-build-a-secure-attachment-bond-with-your-baby.htm

Sauchuk, C. (1984). A comparative study of maternal-infant bonding and attachment as it exists in traditional hospital birthing approaches and certified nursemidwifery approaches. digitalcommons.unf.edu. Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.unf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1051&context=etd

Tomlin, C. (n.d.). Infants and toddlers: the importance of bonding and attachment.'' Earlychildhood NEWS - Article Reading Center''. Retrieved from http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_home.aspx?ArticleID=716The Importance of Maternal Infant Bonds

By: Cassandra Wood

Introduction 

            Many children lack the strong bonds with their parents that should have been achieved as infants. Attachment, in its simplest description, is the developed relationship between a parent and their infant that is both emotionally positive and mutually rewarding. Comparably, bonding can be described as more of a process where the parents and the infant/child discover they are special and important to one another. Early researchers believed there to be an optimal period in time for bonding or attachment to occur; a period existing immediately after birth. Many researchers of this theory liked to use goslings as examples of this optimal period. "It is mentioned that goslings, like chickens and ducks, form an attachment to the first thing they see. This is known as imprinting" (Tomlin 2008).

Importance of Bonds 

While it is true the time immediately after birth is important, it isn’t the only time after birth that is important for the making of a secure bond. It is extremely significant that mothers take the time to pay attention to the cues of their infant. Although a mother may love her infant, that does not mean that she and her infant have a secure bond; building a secure bond with your infant takes work. “Even in the first days of life, your baby picks up on your emotional cues—your tone of voice, your gestures, and your emotions—and sends you signals by crying, cooing, mimicking facial expressions, and eventually smiling, laughing, pointing, and even yelling, too. In return, you watch and listen to your baby’s cries and sounds, and respond to their cues, at the same time as you tend to their need for food, warmth, and affection”(Robinson, Saisan, Smith & Segal, 2015). When an infant or child has a strong and secure bond with their parent or caregiver, most often the mother, they tend to be more independent as they mature into adults. Together, John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth developed the attachment theory. Bowlby points out that "a well-loved child is quite likely to protest separation from parents, but will later develop more self-reliance" (Bowlby in Bretherton, 1992).

Not Forming Secure Bonds 

If a child and their parent don't achieve a secure bond with each other, there could be dire consequences. Just as early researchers were referring to goslings for the optimum period, they also refer to cows and goats as examples of the downfall of not being able to achieve a bond during this important time frame. They take note of how mammal species such as cows and goats may reject their young and refuse to let them nurse if they are separated at birth (Tomlin, 2008). In a podcast by Tony Madrid, Ph.D., he mentions how a woman had a young daughter; even though she had carried the daughter in her womb for 9 months and it was her own biological daughter, she felt no love towards her. He attributed this to the fact that when she had just given birth to her baby, the doctor and nurses took the baby away immediately and she was not able to achieve a secure bond or attachment in the optimum period. Normally a woman should be allowed to hold her baby and nurse it immediately after birth, so as to ensure this bond takes place. In an attempt to correct this, he hypnotized the woman and just asked her to reimagine or picture the birth of her daughter and her actually being able to hold her immediately after. As soon as they were done with their session, she immediately felt a new, strong love for her daughter that she had been missing. Together, John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth developed the attachment theory. In Mary Ainsworth's study "it turned out that secure attachment was significantly correlated with maternal sensitivity. Babies of sensitive mothers tended to be securely attached, whereas babies of less sensitive mothers were more like to be classified as insecure. Mother's enjoyment of breast-feeding also correlated with infant security" (Ainsworth in Bretherton, 1992). Although some mothers may overlook it, it is very important that they not only take care of their infants but also themselves. Sleep is very important and getting enough sleep can help lesson stress significantly. Also, do not be afraid to ask for help taking care of your infant and taking some time away from your infant can relieve stress detrimentally.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN">Conclusion 

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN">It is very important that we allow not only our farm animals to have the time immediately after birth to start the development of a secure bond, but that we also provide this time for our fellow humans. Not just bonds and attachments, but secure bonds and attachments are important to our infants and children’s growth. A strong bond will help an infant grow up to be an independent individual. “A secure bond provides your baby with an optimal foundation for life: eagerness to learn, healthy self-awareness, trust, and consideration for others.”(Robinson, Saisan, Smith & Segal, 2015)

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none">References

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none">Bretherton, I. (n.d.). THE ORIGINS OF ATTACHMENT THEORY: JOHN BOWLBY AND MARY AINSWORTH.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none">Madrid, T. (2007, December 15). Tony Madrid on repairing broken maternal/infant bonds [Personal interview].

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none">Reporter, D. (2014, April 6). FOUR out of 10 babies do not form a strong enough bond with their parents - and it affects them for life! Retrieved May 1, 2015, from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2598497/FOUR-10-babies-not-form-strong-bond-parents-affects-life.html

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:150%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none">Robinson, L., Saisan, J., Smith, M., & Segal, J. (2015, April 1). How to Build a Secure Attachment Bond with Your Baby. Retrieved April 30, 2015, from http://www.helpguide.org/articles/secure-attachment/how-to-build-a-secure-attachment-bond-with-your-baby.htm

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:150%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none">Sauchuk, C. (1984). A Comparative Study of Maternal-Infant Bonding and Attachment as it Exists in Traditional Hospital Birthing Approaches and Certified NurseMidwifery Approaches.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:150%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none">Tomlin, C. (n.d.). Earlychildhood NEWS - Article Reading Center. Retrieved April 30, 2015, from http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_home.aspx?ArticleID=716