When You Don't Bond With Your Bump (Like Kristen Bell)

Now Kristen Bell is totally enamored with her 5-month-old daughter, Lincoln. But the House of Lies star would be the first to admit that her motherly instincts didn't actually kick in until after her daughter was born.  She told Flare that while she was pregnant she felt no connection with her baby bump—whatsoever.

"It could have been a water bottle in my belly, that's how connected I felt to her during my pregnancy," Kristen confesses. "I kept saying to [husband Dax Shepherd] in all sincerity during my pregnancy, 'I just don't know how I'm going to like her as much as I like the dogs [pugs Lola and Mr. Shakes].'"

While it may sound like another one of Kristen's hilarious jokes, she's actually very serious. "I love people the more I know them, and
I didn't know [my baby]." While your initial reaction to that may be, How could you not feel an instant connection with your baby, he or she is inside you?!

I can somewhat relate. Of course I was thrilled to be pregnant, and I couldn't wait for my little man to be born so I could get to know him, but I didn't feel that mother-son bond at the moment of conception, like some moms-to-be seem to. I really didn't feel that bond until I knew his sex. Then it got stronger when he started kicking (we were finally able to communicate, and I could feel he really was in there!), and then when he was born my total obsession with him really started.

So if you're like Kristen (and me) and you're not feeling majorly connected to your bump just yet, not to worry! No, you are not the worst mom-to-be in the world! Yes, you will still bond with your baby! Kristen now says that there's no one on this planet she'd rather spend time with than her little girl. Aww!

TELL US: Did you instantly bond with your bump, or did it take time to feel that mother-baby bond?

Are you maximizing your fertility? Take our quiz and find out! Then, browse through these 13 telltale signs that you could be pregnant.

Image of Kristen Bell courtesy of Shutterstock.