New book launched in Dundee aims to help parents bond with their unborn baby

A new book has been launched in Dundee to help parents bond with their unborn child.

“Hello In There Wee One” has been published in partnership with Dundee City Council, NHS Tayside Infant Mental Health Team, the University of Dundee and Dundee Contemporary Arts to help expectant parents imagine what life will be like with their new arrival.

Vicky Armstrong, an art therapist working with families who helped design the book, told STV News people often don’t know how to start bonding with their unborn child.

She said: “I think people feel a bit silly starting talking to their bump, and think it could be nice to have a bit more guidance on how they might do that and some encouragement.

“It’s something that’s focused on thinking about your baby – rather than maybe wondering what eye colour they’ll have, or what they’ll look like, and the more superficial things. This was more about thinking about what it will be like together with your baby.”

Lauren Wolfe and her family were among those who contributed drawings along with a list of their favourite places to visit in the city as a young family.

She believes it’s something that would have helped her as a first-time mum: “It’s nice to have a book to give you ideas about how to bond,” she said.

“It’s not always easy to bond with something that’s growing inside you and not knowing how that will feel later.

“It’s nice to hear from other families and other people who have been through it, and I think that’s the books’ biggest power – sharing the experiences of people who have been through the same thing.

“One of my best friends bonded immediately – like as soon as she found out she was pregnant – and that was very different for me.

“It took me probably like six months to really bond with him after he was born and that’s just hard, it would have been nice to have reassurance that that was normal.”

Dr Sean Nolan, lead clinician for NHS Tayside Infant Mental Health, hopes the book will support all families across Dundee.

He said: “Bonding with your bump comes naturally to some but not to all parents and we hope that “Hello In There Wee One” can both identify earlier on those families who would benefit from a higher level of support and also just generally building positive supportive relationships for young families in Dundee.

“The parent-infant interaction is itself strongly associated with attachment security, so that would be the safe and supportive relationship between main carer and infant.

“A secure attachment is associated with a whole array of better outcomes across all developmental domains including emotional wellbeing and infant mental health, and it’s also good for parents too.”

The book will be given to all expecting families in Dundee at their 16-week scan and is available online