The Importance of the Bond between the Mother and Her Unborn Baby
A maternal bond is the relationship and connection that exists between a mother and her child. This bond is vital not only for the baby’s survival but for the survival of humanity as a whole. It is the first experience of love we have in life - one that begins even before pregnancy, during the time a woman is thinking about having a child. It then unfolds throughout pregnancy and into early infancy. The first three years of a baby’s life outside the womb are critical not only for physical development but also for emotional growth.
During pregnancy, you care for your baby in your womb.
During labor, you support your baby’s transition into the world.
After birth, you welcome your baby into your life.
And this whole journey is about bonding and connecting!
Many mothers continue to feel this intimate connection throughout life - even when their child is an adult. Some mothers, for example, have a strong sense that something is wrong with their grown-up child during a crisis or accident, even if they live miles apart.
The bonding process has a powerful impact on both mother and baby. It is influenced by many aspects of a mother’s life, including:
• her environment
• her relationships
• her lifestyle and personality
• her physical and emotional well-being
• her strengths
• her anxieties and fears
Bonding challenges may arise if a woman experiences prolonged stress or pressure. Sometimes, a mother may feel disconnected or even emotionally detached from her unborn baby. She might struggle to adapt her life to the needs of her baby, resist change, or feel as though she is not pregnant - despite physically being so.
Several factors can weaken the bond, such as a traumatic birth, unresolved issues from the mother’s own childhood, toxic stress, lack of support, or negative influences from her partner or family. A mother who is unable to respond to her baby’s cues and needs is more prone to postpartum depression and may have greater difficulty with breastfeeding.
Fortunately, we can recognize and address these potential issues before, during, and after pregnancy. Seeking support to heal emotional wounds or patterns helps strengthen the bond, allowing the mother to connect more deeply with her baby. This can transform the experience of motherhood into something more positive and fulfilling -breaking cycles and preventing the transmission of negative patterns to future generations.
Pregnancy and the journey of motherhood are among the greatest transformations a woman can experience. It is a time for self-discovery, for deepening the connection with ourselves as women becoming mothers. It’s also an opportunity to care for our emotions by creating a safe space for expression and by nurturing positive feelings in the body and mind. These internal experiences shape the baby’s life in the womb and influence how the baby perceives the world outside.
Even when a mother doesn’t feel the bond, it’s important for her to understand that it already exists. The journey of motherhood has begun. Mother and baby are now sharing a fusion of bodies, emotions, thoughts, and energy.
Everything a mother does during pregnancy will influence her baby’s life. When a mother overcomes emotional blocks or fears, she teaches her baby that it’s possible to face challenges with love and resilience. This strengthens the baby’s sense of self-worth, trust, and emotional connection.
In my sessions, I often meet new mothers who find it difficult to feel the bond at the beginning of pregnancy. But this connection can grow with time - it’s about becoming more aware, more sensitive, and learning simple techniques to support the bonding process. It might take a few hours or a few weeks, but communication between mother and baby happens not only on a physical level, but also emotionally, mentally, and energetically.
The emotional bond starts long before the physical one - before the baby’s movements are felt around 18 to 25 weeks.
Pregnancy is a time of transformation - not just of the body, but of the mind and life itself. It may bring what we need to grow, not necessarily what we expected. Every pregnant woman should recognize the deep power within her journey and the connection she already shares with her unborn baby. Letting that bond flow freely - without fear or resistance - is key.
Your baby will be your greatest teacher.
Your baby is also here to support your growth, helping you make meaningful changes in life that benefit both of you. The more present and mindful a woman is during pregnancy, the deeper the connection with her baby—and the stronger that bond will be after birth. Mother and baby are already a team, and the mother can become attuned to her baby’s needs, preferences, and discomforts - even in the womb.
Unborn babies are fully conscious and sensitive beings. They communicate with their mothers throughout pregnancy, expressing their own needs and emotions.
Science now confirms what many women have felt for centuries: unborn babies respond to touch and movement, and they are affected by their mother’s emotional state. This happens through factors such as her heartbeat, voice, gestures, and actions. The hormonal link between mother and baby helps calm the baby, and the baby can also send hormonal signals to help the mother cope with stress and regulate her emotions.
The birth of a child changes life forever - not only for the mother, but for her partner, family, and the world around her. Through the love and bond between mother and baby, we experience the purest form of love for the first time. Understanding the potential of this bond is essential to building a better world—one filled with more affection, connection, and emotionally secure human beings.
About the Author
Susana Lopes is the Founder and Secretary-General of Prenatal Alliance, an advocate for World Pregnancy Day – March 22, a Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga Teacher, a Pilates Teacher, a Humanized Pregnancy and Birth Advocate, Speaker, and the author of “Yoga e Maternidade”. Her present work includes guiding women to effectively release stress and anxiety from their body and improve their overall health and connection with their baby.