It can be a frightening prospect to approach impending motherhood, especially when one has no experience. However there are a number of aspects of becoming a mother than are simply natural in-built reactions and, in truth, there is always someone you can ask if you are unsure.

The medical profession is well served by baby experts, and these people are there for you to consult should you have any concerns either before or after the birth.

Here we look at some of the common worries that mothers to be tend to have with regard to the life changing event that is about to envelope them.

How will it know I’m its mother?

This is an often asked question, and one that has a very interesting answer – put simply, the baby is pre-programmed to recognise you as mother thanks to thousands of years of evolution. The first few weeks are essential in the way a mother and baby bond, and it is during this time that the life long connection between mum and baby develops.

This is a deeply rooted psychological reaction that is present in all new born babies, and results from the days when protection was necessary from predators. While we do not have any natural predators these days, the process can be seen in many mammals, where newborns stay with the mother for a set amount of time, and stay close to her at all times.

Basically, when you hold the baby for the first time you are beginning the bonding process and, like a kitten or a puppy, the baby will expect to be fed by you and looked after by you from then on. It comes naturally, and you’ll hardly notice it happen.

How do I hold it?

Believe it or not this is among the most prevalent of questions asked by mothers to be, and with good reason; no mother wants to drop her baby, and the intuition to care is kicking in in this instance.

It may sound clich?d, but again the truth is it will come naturally. Women are predetermined to become mothers – it is what they are ‘designed’ for – and thus the thousands of years of doing so have left an indelible impression in our evolution.

In addition, you will have held a baby at some point in your life – most of us have – and you will have been surprised at how one way of holding it felt instinctively right. That is because it was, and this is how you will find yourself holding your own baby in the future.

The chances of dropping a baby – the inner fear from which this question arises – are very slim, as they require a firm hold. You will learn the technique very quickly indeed, and soon become an expert in the field!

How do I comfort it when it cries?

Firstly, it is important to know that a baby crying is not always a sign of distress – sometimes it is simply a request for attention. The baby can not speak words, but can articulate a method of asking us to attend to it – this is best done by crying, a natural response.

When a baby cries the mothers instinct is to pick it up; this is because that is the right thing to do. A baby will cry when it finds itself in unfamiliar territory, when it is hungry or when it needs changing. These are all instances in which the mother is best to pick up the child, hence the natural reaction and the effect it has.

A baby that is picked up is responding to the movement and the comforting aspect of the mother enclosing it in a safe and secure way, and thus feels protected and, as a result, stops crying.

Motherhood is a natural act for a woman, and the fact that a lot of it comes naturally is far from unusual – it is simply common sense. The above are just a few of the popular concerns of mothers to be, but few need to remain concerns for very long.

Mark Crockrum, Article Marketer http://www.baby-assistance.info