Mama You've Got This...

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I’ve never really thought of myself as
maternal. Will a magical mama switch
just turn on after I give birth?
Not to sound corny,but there’s something about popping
a baby out of you that completely changes your
mindset. For most mamas, the second you lay
eyes on that squirmy, wrinkly bundle of baby,
your maternal instinct takes over, even if
you thought it wasn’t possible. I was never
much into babies and didn’t have
nieces or nephews on my side of the
family yet, but somehow my whole
mentality did a 180º turn when I saw
the little bean for the first time. The
tiny person I was nurturing for the
past nine months was finally out in
the world. It was mind bogglingly
amazing and a transformative
experience I will never forget.
Becoming a new mama is much
like stumbling upon a new-found
talent you never knew you had. There
is a scientific reason behind a mama’s
maternal instincts. Scientists say that
the new mother’s brain closely resembles
what it looks like when you fall in lov
Don’t worry if you’ve never had a soft spot for
babies in general, either. Research shows new
mamas have stronger feelings about their own baby as
opposed to other people’s babies . Other studies have
shown that the odour of a newborn is addictive and
delicious to new mamas because it activates the
reward circuits in your brain, the same circuits
that make you crave certain foods. Experts
also say that the more a new mama is
involved in childcare, the stronger the
bond will be; something to consider
when handing over some of the baby
duties to a nanny or your mother-in-law.
Changing nappies may not be your
idea of fun, but there’s a payoff in the
end. Establishing this close bond with
your little one straight out of the gates
will also help to ward off postpartum
depression. A win-win for both you
and baby.
And if you’re wondering, yes, there is a
daddy switch that gets turned on as well.
Again, the more childcare responsibilities
the father takes on, the higher the brain
activity which supports that parental bon
In other words, rather than you being the one
on designated nappy duty, ask your partner to
clean up the huge, smelly blowout waiting in your
little one’s nappy. It’s good for him.
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