Prenatal Bonding with Zuri
by Rhonda Gustafson, July 2023
I waited a long time for Zuri. During this time I decided that when I finally did get pregnant I was going to enjoy the whole pregnancy. I noticed that when I was eating healthy and getting some activity, I didn’t get the usual aches and pains that I usually would. Even at 7 months pregnant I felt really good. In fact, when it was getting closer to the time she was due I wasn’t quite ready to be done being pregnant.
I knew it was a very important time for the baby to connect with me before facing the challenges in life.
Yoga has been my favorite exercise routine for a lot of years. I suspect it was because the yoga instructor in the very first yoga video I followed told me to let go of everything before now and everything after now. All I needed to do right now was yoga. I liked this concept and it was what my mind needed for that time. I finally learned to relax.
For my fourth baby, my hips were really starting to feel the adjustments my body was making to be pregnant. Yoga kept me moving in a lot of different ways and eased the discomfort in my hips.
In the last couple months, I noticed that it felt like I was doing yoga with my little girl. I listened to a the same yoga and meditation playlist every time and before I started my routine I would sit quietly and connect with her. I told her that I was excited to have her. That she would live a wonderful life and that we would figure out the kinks as we go. I told her how beautiful life is.
As I started the routine I would move smoothly with a calm, joyful spirit. It really felt like I was doing it with her, as if she was right next to me rather than inside of me. Afterwards, we would go about the normal routine of the day holding on to that peaceful feeling as much as possible. I did this a couple times a week in the last couple months.
After Zuri was born she had a hard time eating. She had a lot of bubbles and she was aspirating which caused her some anxiety every time I tried to nurse or give her a bottle. She was also very small and was losing weight.
One day she was crying as we were working out some of the bubbles in her stomach. I turned on the same yoga and meditation playlist we listened to with yoga and rested her cheek against my cheek. I brought back the same calm, peaceful, yoga feeling and slowly bounced her. She instantly relaxed and stopped crying.
Once we solved the issues with her swallowing and she started eating better she was a very happy and peaceful baby. She would acknowledge everyone that walked into the room by smiling at them until they looked over at her and smiled back. As she grew I could see how social and adventurous she was. She also had her drama queen moments like most little girls but I strongly feel that her prenatal bonding experience played a part in her bright personality.
