A Journey of Love: The Influence of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology on Parent-Child Bonding

The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to better
understand parents’ experiences of bonding with their babies in utero and after birth,
and to discover the relevance of a prenatal and perinatal psychology (PPN) based
bonding class in this process. Five couples were recruited from prenatal parenting
classes in Santa Barbara, CA, and interviewed in person 2-6 months after giving birth.
Benefits of the class for the parents included developing awareness of the consciousness
of unborn babies, learning methods for bonding prenatally, and finding ways to
communicate with a newborn. Suggestions for the future included offering tips for
healing after a traumatic birth, normalizing the postpartum period, and easing the
pressure prospective and new parents feel. This underscores the necessity of PPN
educators using sensitivity and creativity in imparting this new perspective.
KEY WORDS: bonding, attachment, prenatal education, parent, child, prenatal and
perinatal psychology (PPN), qualitative research.