JoAnna Laspesa, CCCE, is a CAPPA trained labor doula and certified childbirth educator at the Atlanta Baby Bump in Buford, GA. You can learn more about JoAnna and her classes at her website.
As a mother, parent-baby bonding is a topic especially close to my heart. Completing the HUG teacher training gave me many opportunities to reflect on my own experiences with my children when they were babies. HUG stands for Help, Understanding, Guidance for young families. If I had access to the HUG methods when my children were babies, I would have been more confident in my abilities as a mother and I would have been more aware of the bonds I had already formed with my child. I would've been able to recognize when my son was exhibiting SOS - Signs of Over-Stimulation.
Most women imagine that they will love and bond with their child instantly, but it is impossible to know exactly what your feelings will be towards your new baby. With increasing cases of postpartum depression related to not feeling a close connection with a new baby, sharing HUG methods will provide mothers with knowledge to help bolster their parenting and nurturing abilities.
I look forward to having the opportunity to share these teachings with expecting families. I especially want to share this information with women who may be struggling with adjusting to motherhood. Be it single moms, young mothers, or women who have come from a bad home situation - everyone can benefit from learning about HUG. It can change the course of your and your baby's lives for the better.
I am grateful that HUG exists today. I am hopeful that the more people learn about HUG, the more we'll be able to improve families from generation to generation.
Parent-Baby Bonding and New Certified HUG Teacher
