unconditional love
Mother & Infant Relationship
The mother-infant relationship is a key psychological element in the healthy development of a newborn and the foundation of unconditional love.
Many women do not develop an immediate bond with their newborn infant. Rather, they experience a gradual increase in maternal love for their baby over the first few weeks.
It is quite common to feel a disappointing lack of emotion, sometimes accompanied by a feeling of estrangement. It usually isn’t something to be concerned about as it is temporary. However, some mothers develop a persistent aversion to their children.
A mother’s relationship with her own caregiver is reflected in this new relationship with her baby. As the mother and her baby build their bond, both the past experience of the mother and the baby’s present experience influence their interactions.
A psychotherapist can help a mother understand where her beliefs, stories, and thinking patterns affect her relationship with her child.
When these are negative, they can create a negative environment where sleeping, feeding, playing or stimulation become difficult experiences for both of them.
