Maternal-fetal attachment (MFA) is a term used to describe the relationship between a pregnant woman and her fetus. Qualitative descriptions of maternal attitudes and adaptation to pregnancy indicate that MFA is based on cognitive representations of the fetus. These may include imagined scenarios between mother and child, as well as a mother's attribution of physical and emotional characteristics to the fetus.
MFA is manifested in behaviors that demonstrate care and commitment to the fetus and include nurturance, comforting, and physical preparation.
Everything in evolution is making sure that attachment develops between an unborn child and its mother.
This is an evolutionary tactic to ensure that the baby stays close to the mother and vice versa to give the best chance of survival to the baby
For example, studies have shown that a fetus recognizes his/her mother’s voice whilst in the womb
Babies only minutes after birth automatically show a preference for their own mother’s smell, breast milk, and sound of her voice.
One of the most primal instincts is to breastfeed, both from a baby as well as mother’s point of view and the very act of breastfeeding ensures long term bonding via hormonal routes
The effects of the “love hormone” oxytocin released during breastfeeding as so strong that some experts suggest that they can last a lifetime, thus ensuring our life long love for our children
Although this is a controversial topic because new generation mothers are working and hence there is less breastfeeding, the long term benefits of breastfeeding on attachment is very evident and cannot be ignored.
#attachmenttheory #Maternalfetalattachment #psychoanalysis
This video is a part of Early attachment theory which is explained by Shruti Ahuja (Clinical and Health Psychologist) Hungary
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7 окт 2024
