Dealing with Divorce During Pregnancy or Soon After
Many people may imagine that divorcing while pregnant or with very young children is easier on the kids. The reality couldn’t be further from the truth because infants—and even in utero babies—are sensitive to emotional upsets and to changes in their environment. Just because they can’t express themselves in words doesn’t mean they don’t experience their parents’ stress and have reactions to changes in their care. This makes it essential for parents to work together to establish a parenting plan that creates the least amount of disruption possible for their youngest family members.
There’s a Lot Going on with Babies
Those sweet little ones have more going in in their brains than many people might think!
- A baby’s sense of security is critical for healthy growth and development. With a brain that is rapidly emerging, early attachments and the ways in which their needs are met lay the groundwork for future feelings of security—or uncertainty. If their schedules are disordered or if they don’t have consistent contact with both parents, it can undermine bonding and attachments. Babies can be confused or stressed despite having no real way to express those emotions.
- Babies steep in and absorb the emotions of their caregivers, even if they lack the cognitive skills to express their own feelings. It is widely understood that even very young babies are quite sensitive to the facial expressions of their parents and the nonverbal energy caregivers effuse. Babies’ ability to tune in to parental moods is often reflected in the baby’s level of fussiness, sleep habits, or eating patterns.
- High conflict divorce can be very stressful for babies, whose brain development is impacted by the bombardment of cortisol and other stress hormones. Long term, it can lead to problems with immunity or impediments to a child’s nervous system, which is developing in those early years. A child may ultimately experience difficulty regulating their emotions as they get older.
Putting Baby First
The best thing any parent can do for their infant is to provide uniformity and certainty in daily routines. This is how babies develop feelings of wellbeing and security. Parents who are in a challenging relationship should always do whatever they can to keep the baby away from conflict. Babies do sense a parent’s distress, so avoiding exposure to it is job one!
It’s important to acknowledge the need for babies to experience love and approval from both parents. That means creating a parenting plan that supports the development of a strong relationship with both parents. Putting the child first by providing a nurturing and supportive environment is the responsibility of each parent. Adults should get the help they need to do this from family, friends, or professionals.
Wise/Lieberman
The experienced Boca Raton divorce attorneys at WiseLieberman are committed to helping our clients through divorce with as little stress as possible. To discuss your situation, schedule a confidential consultation in our Boca Raton office today.
Source:
jud12.flcourts.org/About/Divisions/Family/Pro-Se-Forms-Instructions/Parenting-Plans
