Thinking about baby – Early Thoughtfulness

 

Bonding Before Birth

You may anticipate how it will feel to be a new parent and what type of parent you would be.  You may have held an image or thoughts in your mind of what your baby will look like and what their little character might be before the birth.  For some parents, thinking about these things before baby is born may be quite difficult. 

You may be surprised to learn that your baby will have been getting to know you in the months before birth. They have been listening to your body, and are familiar with the rhythms, sounds and smells.  They have been listening to your voice and the voices of people closest to you, so when they are born, they will prefer the familiarity of those voices they have been listening to in the last months leading up to birth.

 

Here are three questions that can be really helpful for expectant parents to explore.

They are designed to invite you to explore any thoughts, feelings, hopes and fears you may have about a new baby and the impact of this on your life. There are no right or wrong answers; what matters is being able to share feelings and begin to adjust to the idea of becoming a family.

1.     What were your thoughts and feelings in the first days and weeks after you found out you were having a baby?

These may include: shock, surprise, fear, delight, worry, lack of memory about this time, feeling supported.

2.     What are some of your hopes and fears about becoming a mother or father?

These may include: hopes such as joyful time with infant, good support network, looking forward to future relationship with child; and fears such as not being good enough, getting it ‘wrong’, financial issues, not having time to self, impact on relationship with partner/others

3.     What are your thoughts and feelings about the birth itself?

These may include: fear, distress, anxiety, nightmares, hope, positivity, excitement, specific plans

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You can also downlaod the GPIMHS Early Thoughtfulness Antenatal E-Book 1