Safeguarding the Mother-Baby Dyad

Maternal postpartum care is essential to safeguarding the mother-baby dyad.

Postpartum care supports the co-regulation of baby’s systems and helps baby feel safe in the world. When mom thrives, baby thrives, and when baby thrives, mom thrives. “Infant social, emotional and neurological development is shaped by the mother-child dyad.” (Singapore Medical Journal).

Nine Months In, Nine Months Out

Even though a mother and a newborn baby are physically separated at birth, “their physiology, physical safety, and emotional well-being remain deeply interconnected” especially during the first 9 months after birth when the mother-baby dyad needs to be safeguarded (BirthTools.org).

In the mother-baby dyad, there is an intra-gestation period of approximately 40 weeks where baby is growing inside the mother, AND there is also an exo-gestation period of approximately 40 weeks after baby is born. During this exo-gestation period baby is reliant on its caretaker, often the mother, for survival and the co-regulation of its heartbeat, breath, temperature, nervous system, cardiovascular function, sleep rhythms, immune function, and hormone levels. (Boba.com). The exo-gestation period is said to be complete when baby can crawl away as a mammal would to escape predators, find food, etc. At this point, baby is approximately 9 months and has developed about 50% of its adult brain volume.

Co-regulation Within the Mother-Baby Dyad

During this exo-gestation period, co-regulation within the mother-baby dyad is necessary to help support baby’s systems and development. Co-regulation occurs from the following:

• Skin to skin contact which regulates baby’s body temperature through a phenomenon called thermal synchrony and helps with the regulation of hormones, such as Oxytocin.

• Social responses, including eye contact, cooing, and smiling, which help regulate baby’s nervous system

• Heart coherence which sends out signals of love, appreciation, calm and care from mother to baby when there is high variability. “Coherence occurs when the heart, mind, and emotions are in energetic alignment and cooperation,” according to Dr. Rollin McCraty at the HeartMath Institute.

• Breastfeeding which releases Oxytocin, known as the “love hormone” in mom and helps intensify her bonding and attachment with her baby.

• Touch which has a positive impact on infant weight gain, mental development and neurological development (Dr. Rice, 1977). “While in contact with the mother, the infant’s systems are kept at a regular tempo. But apart, the newborn must work doubly hard to maintain physiological harmony.” According to Dr. Heller in The Vital Touch.

• Carrying baby to provide sensory experiences that stimulate them to do their own exploring, manipulating, and wondering are often more impactful than the information and experiences provided by toys and flashcards.

• Secure attachment regulates the nervous system and has a positive impact on self-esteem and the ability for baby to “trust”.

Mother-Baby Dyad and Baby’s Development

Humans are born with only 25% of adult brain volume at birth because they are designed to grow their brains and their nervous systems through their relationship and experiences with their primary caregivers. Most other mammals are born with 60% - 90% of their adult brain size. (The Natural Child Project)

Babies will use their nervous system to find out about their environment and their place in it. They learn survival programs outside of the womb until age 3 which is when they will have about 90% of their adult brain volume and when the mother baby dyad is complete. The reason for this difference between humans and other mammals is that although humans live in the modern age, "our brains remain grounded in the Stone Age. Nearly all our biochemistry and physiology are fine tuned to the conditions of life that existed when we were hunters and gatherers,“ so babies need time to learn how to survive in the current day environment with the protection and co-regulation provided by mom or their primary caregiver (Granju, 273).

Safeguarding the Mother-Baby Dyad

Through the mother-baby dyad, your baby is designed to feel and experience the world through you as mother. It is important to set up pieces now to help safeguard the mother-baby dyad and ensure that you feel good so your baby feels good.

Here are a few tips on how to safeguard the mother-baby dyad:

·       Call in your people that can help provide support after you have had your baby.

·       Incorporate traditional postpartum practices such as the 5 essentials of postpartum care.

·       Take a maternal wellness course prenatally to learn how to support your health and well-being. The INNATE Postpartum Care Planning for the 4th Trimester Course is offered in locations worldwide as well as through Mothering Life.

·       Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Safeguarding the mother-baby dyad is a beautiful way to create a strong foundation for baby. By supporting new mothers with postpartum care we support the mother-baby dyad and help both moms and babies thrive.

Danielle Hughes is the Founder of Mothering Life, a Craniosacral Therapist and an INNATE Postpartum Care practitioner. She focuses on supporting moms, so motherhood can be the celebration that it is meant to be.