The Connection Between a Mother’s Kiss and a Newborn: Emotion, Science, and Sanatana Dharma

Dear Friends,

Recently, a social media influencer shared a heartwarming video that captivated many. In the video, a newborn baby was crying while being held by a nurse. However, as soon as the baby was placed in the mother’s arms and received her first kiss, something remarkable happened: the baby immediately calmed down and seemed to crave more affection. The baby’s anxious expression was replaced with one of security and warmth, demonstrating the powerful bond between mother and child. Viewers were deeply moved, and many commented on the incredible impact of a mother’s touch.

One of my connections, Ravi Teja Akondi from Vizag, has dedicated his work to maternal and infant well-being through his startup, iMumz. Ravi holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Management from IIT BHU (2012–2017) and comes from a family of Ayurvedic physicians spanning five generations. Deeply committed to integrating traditional wisdom with modern practices, Ravi joined his family’s business, Teja Ayurveda Nilayam, in Yelamanchili near Vizag after graduating. In 2020, he co-founded iMumz with the goal of revolutionizing maternal healthcare. Today, the iMumz app has over 1.5 million downloads and more than 100,000 paid subscribers. Through his work, Ravi has contributed to improving maternal health and is inspiring more initiatives in this space, emphasizing the philosophy that prevention is better than cure.

iMumz shared an intriguing article titled, “Will Your Child Be Impacted by Meditating During Pregnancy? What Science Is Saying.” According to a University of California study involving 335 women, those who practiced meditation had fewer instances of low birth weight and premature births compared to those who did not meditate. Another study found that women who meditated during pregnancy had babies with higher Apgar scores—a measure of a newborn’s health, including complexion, pulse, reflexes, activity, and breathing. Additionally, research published in the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing highlighted that women who started a meditation routine early in pregnancy experienced reduced stress and anxiety, which ultimately strengthened the mother-baby bond and positively impacted the baby’s development.

While modern science has confirmed the benefits of maternal mindfulness, Sanatana Dharma recognized the significance of this connection long ago. One well-known story from ancient texts illustrates this: Prahlad, the devoted follower of Lord Vishnu, was questioned by his classmates in the gurukul about how he became so deeply devoted despite being born into a demon family. Prahlad explained that his father, Hiranyakashipu, had gone to perform penance to seek boons from Lord Brahma. During this time, Indra kidnapped Prahlad’s mother, Leelavathi. Sage Narada rescued her and took her to his ashram, where she stayed while pregnant with Prahlad. Narada would narrate stories of Lord Vishnu’s divine acts (leelas) daily. Although Leelavathi often fell asleep while listening, the unborn Prahlad absorbed Narada’s teachings with full devotion. Realizing this, Narada continued sharing these stories, becoming Prahlad’s spiritual teacher. This early exposure to divine teachings shaped Prahlad into a lifelong devotee of Lord Vishnu.

Ultimately, while science and emotion establish a connection between a mother and her unborn child, Sanatana Dharma has long emphasized this phenomenon. Science may initially seem to question these ancient beliefs but often ends up supporting them in different ways. In the end, believers and non-believers find common ground in acknowledging the profound bond between mother and child.

Do you believe in this connection, too?

Ravi Saripalle