G+ Comments + Left Holding the Baby

So I'm back from my wonderful blogging break. I always love coming back, catching up on reading your lovely blogs-always something interesting to learn.
To be honest with you, that two weeks holiday was so resting for me and has really given me a new lease of life.

Well, I've never thought that a comment from a fellow blogger, Lisa ,Two Bears Farm and the Three Cubs on my page in a non-blogging environment like Google Plus would make me feel so glad. It is not often that bloggers stop by to comment on Google+ pages and vice versa. But I have to say folks, definitely, it's always beautiful in Blogland!-heartwarming people, interesting photos, kind words and loads of inspiration; I could go on...
I'd like to take this opportunity to say thank you so much for reading CUT and DRY. Also, I want to reiterate how much I love my readers, and how much I love blogging and 'living' in Blogland!

Life is full of phenomena. Left holding the baby. Ever wondered why?

A few years ago, scientists revealed an instinct in women intact and unaffected by the age of technology. Glancing through glossy art books Lee Salk (Scientific American, May 1973) noticed that four times out of five Mary is depicted holding the infant Jesus against her left breast. The Madonna sparked off a series of experiments and observations to determine on which side women hold their babies and why.

First he determined that modern mothers still tend to hold their baby on the left. On 255 right-handed mothers, 83% held the baby on the left. As a control, women were watched emerging from supermarkets carrying baby-sized packages; the bundles were held with no side preference.

Then, dental patients were given a large rubber ball to hold during treatment. The majority clutched the ball to their left side, even when it interfered with the dentist's activities. This suggested that in times of stress objects are held against the left side.
At that point an apparently contradictory phenomenon was observed. A large number of mothers who brought their premature babies to a follow-up clinic were seen to hold their babies against their right side.

So, 115 mothers who had been separated from their babies for 24 hours after birth were observed for holding response. The experimenters presented the baby directly to the mid-line of the mother's body, and noted how she held the baby. 53% held the baby on the left and 47% on the right. And it was also noted that the mothers of the group who had held their baby on the left had already had a baby from which they had not been separated after birth.

The author suggests that "the time immediately after birth is a critical period when the stimulus of holding the baby releases a certain maternal response." That is to say, she senses the baby is better off on her left.
Left-handed holding enables the baby to hear the heartbeat-a sound associated with the security of the womb. In order to discover whether hearing the heart has a beneficial effect on the baby, the sound of a human heartbeat was played to 102 babies in a New York nursery for 4 days. A control group of babies was not exposed to heartbeats.
The babies in the beat group gained markedly more weight and cried far less than the babies in the control group.

(From an article in Spare Rib)

So interesting! Isn't it?

Wishing you all a wonderful, relaxing weekend! xx 

 10 Smart things . Inspiring and so true!

(Bottom Photo via  Pinterest)

75 comments:

chica said...

Tão bom quando temos comentaristas amigos e legais! Linda foto! beijos,tudo de bom,chica

Liz Mays said...

I held my babies on the left too, and I can totally see why the heartbeat would be calming to them. I think I did it because I'm right-handed though.

Have a beautiful weekend, my sweet and wonderful friend!

It's me said...

Welcome back !!...enjoy the weekend...love from me...xxx...

Betty Manousos said...

thank you guys, it's always great to be back!xo

Anonymous said...

Welcome back and I wish you a super weekend.

Sylvia K said...

So good to see you back in blogland, Betty!! Fascinating, interesting post for the day! Like Liz I held my babies on the left, too, and I think it probably had to do with my being right handed as well, Hope you have a wonderful weekend! Enjoy!

T. Powell Coltrin said...

Glad your back!!!

Holding my babies for the first time meant EVERYTHING. They were both placed midcenter on my chest. Interesting.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Betty, Welcome back. I too have been on a blogging break. It just about ate me up---so had to step back some!!!! Have had a good week though -and will return to blogging on Monday.

Interesting about babies hearing the mother's heartbeat.... Never have heard of that before--but I can understand why..

Have a great weekend.
Hugs,
Betsy

Felicity Grace Terry said...

Glad to have you back and with such a lovely post.

Kelly said...

Welcome back!

This was quite fascinating. Yes, offhand I would have associated it with hearing the mother's heartbeat on the left side.

Hope you have a lovely weekend!

MadSnapper said...

I always held mine on the left, and that was because I had to use my right arm to open and close doors, wipe cabinets, do all the work while holding a crying baby. I beleive i had them on the left to use my right hand. i can't even put the key in the door with my left. i do remember holding them in the middle to get them to stop crying, my first son cried for 2 straight years with hardly a break for breathing. if i laid on the sofa or back in a chair an held him tight to the middle of me, he would quiet for a short time... this is all very interesting.

ΑΘΗΝΑ said...

The way someone holds a baby says much about his character.
I hope all the good comments you receive really show that in your followers like what you post.

Hilary said...

Welcome back, lovely Betty. I still do hold my sons to my left side when I hug them.. it just feels natural to me. At the same time, if that's how I'm hugging them, then they're holding me to their left also. So I wonder if this is just a more natural thing for most people. I'd like to see the same study with men.

TexWisGirl said...

welcome back, dear betty! i am glad you had a good break.

Unknown said...

Interesting tidbits! And thinking back, I held my Jakes (and any other baby) on my left. :)

Have a fabulous weekend!

dennistheeremite said...

I also wondered about the right-handed thing; but what if most people are right handed because right handed mothers held their babies near their hearts and so had a better survival rate? I'm just trying to be a pseudo-scientist here. Just looked for you on goolge plus, which I have as well, though I don't use it much, not really knowing what good it is.I am also on facebook, which is a very silly place, but once in a while you hear real things from the people there.

Unknown said...

As a dad, I held my babies on the left, just sayin.
Serious, that is really interesting post, I'm gonna do a little photo research and see what I find about the women in my family. Have a good weekend.

Cloudia said...

Yay! How great to see YOU!

:-)


Aloha

From the Kitchen said...

Thanks so much for stopping by! Your post is very interesting. I am right handed but held both of my babies in my left arm. I carry heavy objects in my left hand. I hang my purse on my left shoulder!!

I love to visit photography blogs.

Best,
Bonnie

Tina´s PicStory said...

♥♥♥

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Thanks for the shout out - so glad my comment made you happy :-)

I held mine to the left except when I had the twins - then one to the left and one to the right, lol.

sky-blu-pink said...

Lovely to see you here again Betty, hope you are refreshed and ready to go! What an interesting article - I am not a mother, but found it fascinating. I shall watch (discreetly of course!) mothers and see. Great floral pic too.

Lynn said...

Very interesting! I'm a childless woman, but have always carried nieces and nephews on my right hip when they are infants. Hmmm...

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

I never noticed the left-sided holding thing. It is interesting.

Welcome back, Betty. It's great to see you again.

xoRobyn

Tamara Camera said...

Welcome back! I was checking pretty regularly and so happy to see a post today.

Giga said...

Welcome back after a break :). After reading an interesting article I remembered from her children kept on the left side, close to the heart. Best regards and have a nice weekend.

Our Neck of the Woods said...

So glad you're back and I'm happy to hear you enjoyed your break :) That is a very interesting article! I never thought about that before. I really love that b&w photo of the flowers :)

Anonymous said...

Very interesting and curious Post.
The detail on the left side.
Welcome to this world.
Hugs and kisses.

Leovi said...

Wonderful flowers in B & W! The portrait of the mother and baby is delicious. Perhaps moms do it because on the left is the heart. Hugs.

Anonymous said...

Oh I remember carrying our son for hours during the night when he obtained his first thees, or had fever. And yes, left arm for carrying and the other for handling things like the bottle or alike.

Please have a good weekend.

Bob Bushell said...

Hope you had a nice blog holiday, I hope that we can be see more you. I love the left handed the baby!

Riot Kitty said...

Nice black and whites! I don't have kids, but I always held my little bro and sis on the right hip, I think because I'm right-handed.

diane b said...

Welcome back. A very interesting article. I always wonder how people think of doing such research.

ANRAFERA said...

Bienvenida de nuevo Betty, espero y deseo hayan sido unas estupendas vacaciones.
Gracias por esta interesante exposición en torno a la colocación de los niños bebes.
Feliz Fin de Semana. Un abrazo.
Ramón

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Chatty Crone said...

I held my babies on my left side too. Glad you are back. Hey if you know a lot about google+ do a blog on it - I just don't get it. sandie

Ginny Hartzler said...

This is REALLY interesting!!! I should have guessed...the left side...the heart! Hasn't God wired us wonderfully? Thank you so much for visiting my blog! I know Lisa from our blogs and she is very cool, We both live in the same part of Virginia. I love the tulips and the mother-daughter picture.

Crissi said...

Welcome back!
Nice weekend
Crissi

tinajo said...

Very interesting, I almost always held mine on the left as well. :-)

Mandy said...

I added you on Google +! Welcome back from your blogging break! I guess we keep that which we love the most closest to our hearts.

EG CameraGirl said...

Yes, VERY interesting. Thanks for posting this.

Sandy said...

Welcome Back! I never had children but I found the baby thing very interesting.

Nancy said...

If I recall correctly, I was a left-holder. I think it had to do with holding the bottle in my right hand -- Happy Weekend Betty! xo

Anaximandro said...

Es un placer visitar de nuevo tu blog y disfrutar de tus interesantes fotografías.
Lástima que no tengas traductor al español para disfrutar más de tus comentarios.
Un abrazo.

Dianne said...

so glad to see you
hugs

dianne said...

Lovely to have you return dear Betty.
Yes, a mothers heartbeat is awlays comforting to a baby.
Have a lovely weekend.
hugs
xoxoxo ♡

Anonymous said...

Welcome back! So glad you had a good break.

Cheryl @ TFD said...

Welcome back! And thanks for visiting.
This is an interesting post. I think I held my babies on my left side for the most part because I'm right-handed. I could carry them and answer the phone, turn on a faucet, hold a bottle, open a door, etc. But, the heartbeat would be soothing to a baby, too, I'm sure.
Have a wonderful weekend!

George said...

Thanks for sharing this fascinating information with us. I'm glad you enjoyed your vacation.

Teté M. Jorge said...

Que bom que voltou!!! Belas fotos!

Beijos.

michael said...

Great post!

Have a good weekend:D

Magia da Inês said...

♪✿
º° ✿✿♪

Nunca tinha pensado nisso, mas faz sentido!!! Ligação mãe e filho se dá pelo coração!...
Bom fim de semana!
Beijinhos do Brasil

¸.•°♡⊱╮╮

Betty Manousos said...

tamara camera, that's so sweet of you! thank you:)

Lisa Gordon said...

Welcome back, Betty!
This is truly an interesting post.

alfonso said...


Thanks for your visit and lovely comment.
I read your article. It seems very interesting. I love the second photo.

· regards

· TornCrystal · & · TheAbsentGaze ·


DIMI said...

Welcome back sweet Betty!I always held my children and my grandchildren, on the left as well!Hope you have a wonderful weekend!Take care!!Φιλάκια φίλη μου!!
Dimi..

Rick said...

Nice to see you back, Betty. Wonderful to see those spring flowers. And an interesting story.

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eileeninmd said...

Interesting post and welcome back, Betty! I believe I use to hold my son on my left side. It has been so long, he is 20 now. Have a happy day!

Fer said...

Estupenda entrada e imágenes, saludos...

Karen @ Pieces of Contentment said...

Quite fascinating. At first I would have thought mother held babies on their left side to free their right hand/arm for all the general activities of life which we continue to do one-handed, however there appears to be more to it.

Bitch said...

Welcome back, dear Betty !!
Interesting is your article and your photography !!!
Hugs !!!!!

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Diane AZ said...

My husband and I are both left handed and held our babies on the right side. Interesting article, Betty!

California Girl said...

This made me try to remember how I breast fed vs how I carried each baby/toddler/child.

I distinctly recall beginning each breast feeding session on the left breast. Why? I think it was more comfortable or else that is what the nurses showed me.

I am right handed, however, and I carried my children on the right side as it is my strongest arm. I am going to start observing other women now.

Interesting piece.

Theresa Mahoney said...

That is interesting. I never thought of it before, but thinking back now, I always held my babies on the left.

SandyCarlson said...

Thanks for the insight, my friend. This was a great post. And thanks for the gorgeous photo!

Buttons Thoughts said...

Good morning Betty I found this post fascinating especially when I read the part about premature babies were held on the right. Both my girls were two months premature and I am positive I held them on the right. The girls are happy and healthy now but this was so interesting just hearing that. Very interesting something to think about thank you. Welcome back to Bloggerville:) B

magda said...

Αγαπημένη μου Μπέττυ
Καλώς όρισες και πάλι στην παρέα μας!
Πολύ ενδιαφέρον ρεπορτάζ και υπέροχη φωτογραφία!
Κι εγώ πάντα αριστερά κρατούσα τον γιο μου και τώρα την εγγονή μου.
Πολλά φιλάκια

Ellie said...

Welcome back to the blogging world. I'm glad to hear that your two weeks holiday was so enjoyable and resting for you.
This is a very interesting post and made me think. I just had a look through pictures of our new wee grandson and noted that I held him on the right side - could be because I am left handed though! Laura was certainly holding him to her left side though.
Thanks so much for you lovely comment on baby Riley's birth, it is much appreciated. :))

Unknown said...

καλημέρα και καλώς γύρισες Μπέτυ!!!Πολύ ενδιαφέρον ανάρτηση!!!Και εγώ πριν 17 χρ.αριστερά τον κρατούσα.Δεν ξέρω γιατί,αλλά μάλλον βολεύει-)))
Πολλά φιλιά-)

La Gata Coqueta said...


Hoy quiero que tu tarde
sea tan bella melodía
como la luz de la armonía...
★ ★

Un abrazo soñando
y un beso amando,
el fin de semana
que ya nos ha llamado
a la placidez y el descanso...
★ ★

Atte.
María Del Carmen


Micupoftea said...

Interesting! I assumed most women held their babies on the left because they are right handed...logical. The bonus is that the infant can listen to the mother's heartbeat. Would not have guessed about the bonding/separation aspect.

Unknown said...

What a beautiful pictures !
Thank you for stopping by and your kind words.
Have a great Tuesday !

Unknown said...

...davvero straordinario Betty! Imparo soltanto ora dal tuo blog, il fenomeno che da tanti secoli si manifesta ancora oggi: il bambino che trova la sua miglior collocazione sul lato sinistro del petto della madre, in corrispondenza del cuore..meraviglioso..grazie abbraccio..