Many new parents are worried about bonding with their new child upon its arrival. But what about the nine months that you have before that new baby gets to make its way into your arms? There are times when new parents want to find a way to make the baby more real, to reach out and find a connection in the here and now. Below are some ideas of places to start.

Watch the baby grow. Although there isn’t a magic window into your belly, there are many great websites out there that will send you weekly updates on how your baby is growing and developing. Look! She just developed fingers! And now she can hear! Two of my favorite email updates come from WebMd and BabyCenter. Even more real are ultrasounds, where you can see your baby moving around, learn about her development, and see her profile before she makes her way into the world. Just don't overdo it - the jury is out on some health effects and doctors recommend getting them only as needed, never to just "take a peek."

Touch your baby. Feeling the baby move or kick can help you connect to him. Gently pat or rub your growing belly. Massage your belly with lotion. Many times, especially in the third trimester, babies will respond to your touch with a kick or other movement of their own.

Sing to him. Try singing a song to your baby! It can be as simple as “Mary Had A Little Lamb” to something more meaningful (for my twins, I loved singing “You’re Just Too Good To Be True”). Your baby doesn’t care if you sing like Mariah Carey or William Hung - he just longs to hear your voice.

Talk to her. One of the easiest ways to connect with your unborn baby is simply to talk to her. It doesn’t have to be a profound conversation about the meaning of life. A simple good morning and good night are a great start. My impending arrival gets lots of comments about how he needs to bulk up to keep up with his older twin brothers.

What have you done to bond with your new baby before he or she arrives? - Sara I.