Journal

Understanding the Mother Baby Dyad

In the early weeks postpartum, mothers and babies aren’t meant to function as separate entities. They are deeply connected—physically, emotionally, and biologically—in what’s known as the Mother-Baby Dyad.
Village For Mama A woman holding and smiling at a newborn baby, close to her face, in a warm and intimate setting.

This dyad reflects the profound bond between mother and baby, where each impacts the other’s well-being in countless ways. A baby’s cues can influence a mother’s hormones and emotions, while a mother’s warmth, presence, and care regulate her baby’s stress, temperature, and even heart rate.

Understanding and nurturing this connection in early postpartum is essential—not just for the baby’s development but also for the mother’s recovery and emotional health. When we prioritise keeping mothers and babies close, we create the foundation for rest, healing, and thriving together.

What is the Mother-Baby Dyad?

The Mother-Baby Dyad is the unique, interconnected relationship between a mother and her baby. This bond begins in pregnancy but becomes especially significant in the postpartum period, where the health and well-being of both mother and baby are deeply intertwined.

Key elements of the dyad include:

  • Physical closeness: Skin-to-skin contact regulates a baby’s temperature, heart rate, and stress levels while also reducing a mother’s stress hormones.
  • Hormonal feedback loops: A baby’s cues trigger the release of oxytocin in the mother, which promotes bonding, milk production, and emotional well-being.
  • Emotional connection: When babies feel safe and secure with their mother, their nervous systems regulate, setting the foundation for healthy emotional development.

The Mother-Baby Dyad isn’t just a concept—it’s biology. We are wired for connection, and when we honour this, both mother and baby thrive.

Why Separation Can Disrupt the Dyad

For most of history, the postpartum period was designed to protect the dyad. Across cultures, mothers were cared for, given time to rest, and supported in keeping their baby close. Today, separation has become normalised—whether through electric bassinets, sleep-training devices, or cultural expectations of “independence.”

But here’s the thing:

  • Separation increases stress for babies—Cortisol levels rise, making it harder for them to regulate emotions.
  • It can delay maternal recovery—Oxytocin (the love hormone) drops, which can lead to increased feelings of anxiety or depression.
  • It disrupts feeding rhythms—Being close to their baby helps mothers produce milk in response to their baby’s needs.

That’s not to say you can never put your baby down—or let others hold them while you rest, shower, or take a breath. But understanding the depth of your connection can help you embrace the postpartum period, surrender to the need for closeness, and lean into practices like babywearing and safe co-sleeping.

It can also help you make sense of those moments when stepping away—even for a few minutes—feels overwhelming. That deep longing, that pull back toward your baby, the anxiety at being apart? It’s not a sign that something is wrong. It’s innate. It’s normal. You need your baby as much as your baby needs you.

How to Nurture the Mother-Baby Dyad in Postpartum

So how do we honour and support this connection in a way that works for both mother and baby?

1. Prioritise Skin-to-Skin Contact

  • Skin-to-skin isn’t just for the first hours after birth—it can be part of daily life postpartum.
  • It helps regulate baby’s stress, supports breastfeeding, and promotes bonding.

2. Create a Restful Environment for Both Mother and Baby

  • Postpartum is a time to slow down. Keeping baby close doesn’t mean you won’t get rest—it actually makes things easier. Create an environment that nurtures and promotes rest.
  • Later on in your postpartum period, consider using a baby carrier for contact naps while still moving through your day.

3. Support Responsive Feeding

  • Feeding on demand—whether breastfeeding or bottle-feeding—is nurtured through closeness and connection. Keeping your baby close helps you naturally pick up on their cues, helping promote intuitive not scheduled feeding.
  • The more in tune you are with your baby’s needs, the more your mama instincts strengthen.

4. Honour the “Cocooning” Phase

  • Many cultures encourage a “lying-in” period where mothers and babies stay close, rest, and bond. We are deeply passionate about honouring a slow postpartum and the importance of nesting. You can help plan this cocooning phase with our A Postpartum Guide ebook.
  • Give yourself permission to embrace a slower pace in the early weeks.

5. Gather a Village That Protects the Dyad

  • A supported mother = a supported baby.
  • Let your village help with meals, housework, and anything that allows you to focus on resting and recovering.

The Dyad is Meant to be Nurtured, Not Managed

The postpartum period isn’t something to “get through.” It’s a time of deep connection, recovery, and bonding—not just for the baby, but for the mother too.

When we focus more on support, we set both mother and baby up for a smoother, more restful transition.

You don’t have to do it all and keeping your baby close is an important part of postpartum recovery, if you have the support around you.

References:

  • Feldman, R. (2012). “Oxytocin and social affiliation in humans.” Hormones and Behavior.
  • Moore, E.R., et al. (2016). “Skin-to-skin contact for mothers and their healthy newborn infants.” Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
  • Bigelow, A.E., et al. (2014). “The relation between mother–infant skin-to-skin contact and infant affect and maternal mood.” Infant Behavior and Development.
  • WHO & UNICEF. (2018). “Implementation guidance: Protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding in facilities providing maternity and newborn services.”

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