Attachment during and after pregnancy is important in creating a bond between mother and child. Health practitioners advocate for pregnant women to spend time engaging in activities that establish a bond with babies even before they are born. Scholars have noted that maternal-fetal attachment is fundamental towards the healthy development of the baby one its born. Ghodrati and Akbarzadeh (2018) noted that mutual readiness between fetus and the mother leads to improved affection after birth. some of the factors associated with creating such kind of attachment were noted as pregnancy, personality traits, marriage, among others. Equally important is that fetal appearance, maternal nutrition during pregnancy as well as neonatal mood affect the newborn’s innate readiness when it comes to attachment development (Ghodrati & Akbarzadeh, 2018). Therefore, there is a need for parents to consider the significance of attachment during and after pregnancy. The documentary, Babies (2010) exposes viewers to some of the factors that influence attachment development with children.
Scholars have explored the vital role that early bonding plays when it comes to long-term mental health as well as resilience in children. The argument is that attachment between a parent and their child creates a bond that the child can rely on. Understandably, toddlers tend to associate with their caregivers more than they do with others. During this stage, the child is uncertain about the world thereby depending more on his or her caregiver. McLeod (2008) stated that “… during this stage the infant is uncertain about the world in which they live and looks towards their primary caregiver for stability and consistency of care”. In support, Winston and Chicot (2016) noted that babies are born dependent on their parents. For that reason, their brain development is contingent on the manner in which as well as quality of relationship with their parents. It is important for one to note that infancy is a crucial phase for brain development. Without proper attachment, children are unlikely to grow being resilient, happy, and independent (Winston & Chicot, 2016).
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In the documentary, there were various behaviors which could promote a secure attachment with babies. Breastfeeding is one of the key behaviors noted across the various cultures featured in the film. Supproting this view, Cetisli, Arkan and Top (2017) focused on maternal attachment and breastfeeding behaviors based on type of delivery, that is vaginal or caesarean. They noted that there was a positive relationship between breastfeeding and maternal attachment hence demonstrating the vital role of breastfeeding. Furthermore, an important finding was that mothers who underwent caesarean section had difficulty breastfeeding and hence poor attachment with their infants (Cetisli, Arkan & Top, 2017). Other behaviors that were noted were such as rocking the baby gently and rubbing his or her back when awake or during sleep. These behaviors were mainly about allowing the baby to experience the parent’s touch Ghodrati & Akbarzadeh, 2018. For instance, in the USA, one can notice the father rocking the baby as he or she just rests on his shoulder. Such kind of relationship allows the baby to feel secure when with their parent.
There are certain behaviors which might produce an insecure attachment between parents and their children. For instance, in the African family in Namibia, one can notice that the women breastfeed with paying particular attention to their children. They do so while eating. In a different case, the Japanese father is seen talking on the phone while wiggling a toy over the baby’s face (Balmes, 2010). These behaviors are simply focused on keeping the babies busy and not initiating a bond with them. A closer look at these behaviors demonstrates a lack of mutuality between the children and their parents. In support of this view, Alhusen (2008) conducted a systematic review of literature on attachment between children and their parents. The results showed that mutuality leads to greater attachment for both fathers and mothers. It promotes a sense of security in familial relationships. Thus, the lack of mutuality noted in how the Namibian women breastfeed their babies and the divided attention of the Japanese father shows a lack of mutuality. This is likely to undermine development of secure attachment.
Across the four cultures, attachment might manifest itself in various ways. For instance, for American families, both the mother and father are active participants in creating an attachment with their children. This is evident in how they take turns taking care of the baby. The same is the case with the Japanese family as one can notice the Japanese father demonstrating how the baby will be carried. However, one can notice that to some extent, the Japanese mother is given the task of bonding with the baby more. The same is the case with the Mongolian and African families. For the African family, the father is not featured meaning that attachment development is left to the mother. These variations could tell more about gender roles whereby in some communities, child rearing is considered as a woman’s job.
Conclusion
The documentary provides great insight on how different cultures establish attachments with their children. Differences noted could reflect on variations in gender roles whereby men are less involved in some cultures, while they are active participants in other others. however, despite these differences one can notice that such an activity as breastfeeding is consistent across cultures. This emphasizes the fundamental role it plays in promoting attachment development between caregivers and their babies.
References
Alhusen, J. (2008). A literature update on maternal-fetal attachment. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs, 37 (3): 315–328. doi:10.1111/j.1552-6909.2008.00241.x.
Balmes, T. (2010). Babies . [Video File]. Retrieved from http://0123putlocker.com/watch/pxw5q8dz-babies.html
Cetisli, N. E., Arkan, G., & Top, E. D. (2018). Maternal attachment and breastfeeding behaviors according to type of delivery in the immediate postpartum period. Revista Da Associação Médica Brasileira,64 (2), 164-169. doi:10.1590/1806-9282.64.02.164
Ghodrati, F., Akbarzadeh, M. (2018). A Review of the Importance of Maternal-fetal Attachment According to the Islamic Recommendations. Journal of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, 6(1), 1193-1200. doi: 10.22038/jmrh.2017.9616
Winston, R., & Chicot, R. (2016). The importance of early bonding on the long-term mental health and resilience of children. London Journal of Primary Care,8 (1), 12-14. doi:10.1080/17571472.2015.1133012
