Sophrology and parents: Words from Sophrologists

The bond between parents and children is sometimes difficult to build, especially in particular contexts: Babyblues, postpartum depression, adoption, handicap, baby with intense needs…

While this link is described as instinctive, it is not necessarily made at first sight and not necessarily during pregnancy.

In 2011, we created the mother-baby group. It became obvious to us that women, future mothers, were very surrounded during pregnancy, through consultations, ultrasounds, preparation for childbirth and in the excitement around a birth.

However, after the arrival of the little one and the visits of the first days, many mothers find themselves alone, faced with crying, fatigue, discovering this new child.

We therefore wanted to offer a special place and time for these mothers and their babies.

A moment when they can discover and communicate differently.

A time when they will learn exercises to relax together. The mother can sometimes practice alone (when baby sleeps). This practice allows you to feel in great shape to take care of yourself and baby.

The practice of sophrology for mothers with their baby

The sessions include standing exercises where the child is carried by his mother in a baby carrier. These exercises are designed to relax mom and baby, allow them to breathe together and to be focused on their pleasant sensations.

Seated exercises, during which the baby is against his mother, are exercises in visualization, breathing or working on the senses. They allow you to relax and project yourself serenely into the daily life to come.

All the exercises can be adapted if the baby needs to suckle or if for some other reason the mother needs to be seated.

Perfect for all moms (and all parents), this mom-baby group is, I would say, even more appropriate in special situations such as a mom suffering from babyblues, adopting parents or a baby suffering from illness or disability .

In these situations, the link is often more difficult to create.

Either because the mother does not feel able to take care of her child, or because there was no time for pregnancy to start getting to know each other, or because the disability or illness of the child requires a lot of acceptance, of renouncing the child that we had imagined, and also a lot of gestures and periods of care which place the parents as caregivers.

During the sessions, the parent (s) present will be able to reserve this time for intimacy and discovery of their child, and thus create the bond that the child and the parent so badly need.

For the child, it will be an opportunity to feel his parent centered on him, feeling his relaxation spread to his own body as well as all the love that his parent has for him.

Author: Elisa PINSARD, Sophrologist.