The Power of a Smile: The Science Behind Infant Cues & Your Brain
Did you know that when a mother observes her own baby's happy face, the key dopamine reward center of the brain is activated?
At 8 weeks old when my daughter smiled and really SAW me, it changed everything. I'll never forget her first smile, because it was the beginning of my journey of connection with her...
I immediately felt more connected and validated that I was doing something right. Ultimately, this was more motivating to further engage with my baby and to continue to meet her needs. Research backs up this universal experience.
For parents of high needs babies, babies with reflux, colic, or other challenge that results in a lot of tears.. it can be a hard to connect when those happy moments are few and far between.
You see, those Dopaminergic reward-related brain regions are activated in response to happy, but not sad, baby faces (Strathearn et al, 2008).
This study suggests that a mother's own feelings are more highly correlated with how they might image their baby feels. Strathearn and colleagues found that sad faces produced wide spread brain activation in areas of the brain that are involved in expression of pain and fear related emotions (Strathearn et al, 2008).
In short, we might feel the way that we perceive our baby is feelings.
Baby appears Happy= mom's feel good reward center is engaged
Baby appears Sad= mom's pain and fear center is engaged
Why does this matter?
Notice if you are beating yourself up for "not enjoying every minute" of this time, or if you are having a hard time feeling connected to your baby.
Babies cry.. a lot. Science suggests that we feel a mirrored emotional response to how we imagine our baby feels. It makes sense that it would be harder to connect with a high needs baby, or with a newborn who can't interact and offer you that smile as feedback.
It will come. In the meantime offer yourself compassion and foster those positive interactions where you can.
You're doing a great job, mama!
-Caroline
