Babies are born ready to bond but that cannot be said of their mums who might experience a combination of feelings after delivery. It is common to find mothers that feel an attachment to their baby as soon as they hold them while others take a bit more time. Mums that do not experience automatic bonding should not feel guilty as the process may take time. Nevertheless, it is possible to build a strong bond with your baby as you continually take care of them and connect emotionally.
Although some mums in Kenya do not experience an attachment to their newborn at birth, there are others that delay interaction that leads to bonding for a number of reasons. Some of the reasons that delay bonding include:
Medical reasons – Some mums that have undergone a Cesarean section operation do not get to hold their baby after delivery, in case the procedure has had some complications. In some cases, they are not able to breastfeed because of the antibiotics or painkillers used during the operation that can inhibit the normal production of milk.
Premature birth – Mums of preemies are only allowed to see their babies at the neonatal intensive care unit which reduces the chances of bonding immediately. As the baby gets stronger and with permission from a doctor, mums are advised to touch the babies in the incubator to begin the bonding process as early as possible. Read more here about caring for your pre-term baby.
Postpartum depression – Baby blues are common after delivery but usually lift off after a short time period. However, for some mums the condition develops into depression and irritation with their baby for a prolonged time period affecting their ability to bond. In such cases, mums are advised to seek professional help. For more information on post-partum depression read here.
