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CLEVELAND (WJW) – Ever realized how your mom somehow knows immediately when something isn’t right? Many refer to this as maternal instinct.

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Cleveland Clinic

Psychologist Dr. Susan Albers explains the validity of maternal instincts.


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“A mother’s instinct is a very real phenomenon,” Dr. Albers said. “It is described as a gut level of awareness of what is happening with your child, whether it is what they need, what they are feeling, or if they are in danger based on no information or explanation.”

Dr. Albers mentioned that both neurobiology and past experiences contribute to maternal intuition.

When a mother spends time with her child, oxytocin is released in the brain, bonding the mother and child together, according to Dr. Albers. This also strengthens their connection and the mother’s ability to decipher what the child may think, feel or need.

Dr. Albers suggests that mothers spend countless hours with their children and begin to notice certain patterns. Therefore, when their child’s behavior shifts, they are able to detect these changes.


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The positive aspect is that intuition isn’t something we’re solely endowed with at birth; it can be developed,” Dr. Albers explained. “Enhancing maternal instincts involves dedicating quality time to your child, staying fully engaged rather than preoccupied. Additionally, paying attention to your inner voice and comparing those feelings against actual circumstances will aid in strengthening these instincts. By focusing inward, questioning yourself, taking pauses for reflection, you can gradually elevate and reinforce your maternal intuition.”

Dr. Albers said it’s important to know the difference between mother’s intuition and anxiety.

According to Dr. Albers, intuition is more of a calm inner voice that nudges you that something doesn’t seem quite right, while anxiety can feel loud and chaotic, kind of like an alarm system going off.


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