Long before the emotional bond between a Mom and baby is formed, there is a physical bond – the placenta. The quality of this bond shapes your pregnancy.

Strong connections are important…………….

When we think about “connecting”, we typically think about emotional connections, or maybe in this day and age, facebook connections. As a Mom, you’re emotionally bonded to your child, pretty much from the moment you “know” they’re developing inside you.

But long before the emotional bond is formed, there is a physical bond.

And the quality of this bond shapes your pregnancy.

Bonding with baby

A strong bond produces a happy healthy baby.

A weak bond…….. creates a host of disorders, collectively termed deep placentation disorders by the medical fraternity, they include

• preeclampsia,
• fetal growth restriction,
• preterm labour,
• in utero fetal death and
• placental abruption.

In short, a weak bond brings trouble and heart break.

So are there ways to improve the quality of this bond ?

It starts early…

The process of placentation is actually a continuous process, but to form a strong bond, you need to get things “right” at the start.

And the start happens within days of conception.

The fertilized egg wafts down and if it is deemed a good quality “egg”, it is invited to embed in the uterus. Various nutrients help in the process. For example, Vitamin D, helps embryos pass the implantation test successfully.

But “landing” is only step 1 in the process

Getting to grips with Mom

The embryo, which at this stage is just a ball of cells, called a trophoblast, has to latch on “tightly” – to facilitate the hook up with Mom.   The responsibility for this “hook up” falls on the shoulders of the cells on the outer layer of the trophoblast.

These cells have to bury deep into the decidua, part of the endometrium.

This then sets up the placenta, which allows the embryo to tap into Mom’s blood supply and thus access all the goodies needed to “grow big and strong”. And, at the same time, allows the embryo to get rid of the things that are no longer useful i.e. the wastes.

How to get a good grip

The details of exactly how placentation is achieved, are still a little sketchy, but there are a lot of proteins and enzymes, involved in the construction process.

Omega-3 fatty acids seem to be very important players in the placentation process.

Numerous studies have shown, Moms “supplementing” with fish oils, typically hold onto their baby’s better.

And their baby’s are BIGGER. New one

But, timing matters.

The “supplementing” is most helpful, when it happens early in the pregnancy.

The trophoblast cells get a boost

Studies in the laboratory have shown that adding fish oil, to trophoblast cells, helps them make more blood vessels.

A trophoblast that is able to make more blood vessels is in a position to penetrate deeper.

The deeper they go, the stronger the connection.

Throughout the pregnancy.

Build a strong connection

Make sure you’re getting sufficient levels of omega-3 fatty acids in your diet to facilitate a strong connection.

The best way to get omega-3s is to eat fish regularly. Fish don’t just give you omega-3s, they are packed full of lots of other nutrients, which are good for Mom and baby. If you’re just not a fish person, then consider supplementing with a high quality omega-3 product.   Make sure you purchase a product which contains only omega-3, you don’t want to consume “extra” omega-6, you’re already eating plenty of them.

NOTE : The advice to avoid fish during pregnancy is a little fishy – women eating lots of fish during pregnancy, may pick up more mercury, but their kids are not at a higher risk of behavioural problems.

Further reading

If you are an expectant Mom or know someone that is – invite them to participate, so they can create Better Body Chemistry during their pregnancy and raise a HAPPY HEALTHY little one.