A Valentine’s Day Tribute: The Unbreakable Bond Between Mothers and Their Children

- Dishankita Wagh (Documentation Coordinator - Maternal and Child Health)

Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love, often marked by chocolates and roses. But beyond romantic love, there is a bond that is deeper and more selfless—the love between a mother and her child. This love begins before birth and lasts a lifetime, making it the purest form of devotion.

Maternal and Child Health (MCH) care is the foundation of this relationship, ensuring that both mother and child are healthy, protected, and nurtured. Just as love in any relationship requires effort and care, MCH programs provide the necessary support to help this special bond flourish.

Love Begins Before Birth

A mother’s love starts the moment she knows she is expecting. She makes choices to ensure her baby’s well-being by, eating nutritious food, taking prenatal vitamins, going for regular check-ups, and avoiding harmful substances

These small but meaningful actions mirror the thoughtful gestures exchanged on Valentine’s Day. A mother’s greatest wish is not gifts or surprises—it is for her child to be born healthy and safe.

The First Valentine’s Gift: A Safe Birth

Childbirth is both a challenging and life-changing experience. The first cry of a newborn is like a love song, marking the beginning of a lifelong bond.

MCH care ensures safe deliveries through skilled healthcare providers, proper medical facilities, and essential childbirth support. Just as we go the extra mile to make Valentine’s Day special for our loved ones, society must work to provide quality maternal care for every mother.

The Language of Love: Breastfeeding and Nutrition

Love is expressed through actions, and a mother’s first act of love is feeding her baby. Breastfeeding is a way of saying “I love you” through nourishment, warmth, and comfort.

Breast milk is the perfect Valentine’s gift—it provides all the essential nutrients a baby needs for healthy growth. As the child grows, the mother continues to ensure proper nutrition, much like how we prepare meals for our loved ones to show we care. MCH programs help mothers provide balanced diets, ensuring children grow strong and healthy.

Protecting Love: Vaccinations and Healthcare

True love means protection. Just as we shield our loved ones from harm, a mother protects her child through vaccinations and healthcare.

Vaccines act as love letters of protection, guarding children against life-threatening diseases. Regular check-ups ensure their proper growth and well-being. MCH programs educate mothers on preventive care, helping children stay safe and thrive.

A Lifetime of Love: Early Childhood Development

Love is more than physical care—it’s also emotional support. A mother plays a key role in shaping her child’s confidence and learning by talking and singing to them, playing together, teaching new words and skills, and creating a safe, loving environment

MCH programs encourage early childhood development by guiding mothers in nurturing their children’s emotional and cognitive growth. Love is not about grand gestures—it’s about being present every single day.

The Love That Never Ends

While Valentine’s Day comes once a year, a mother’s love is eternal. From pregnancy to adulthood, a mother’s care never fades. Her sacrifices, prayers, and unconditional love prove that no other bond compares.

This Valentine’s Day, as we celebrate love, let’s remember the most selfless love of all—a mother’s love. Whether through improving maternal healthcare, supporting new mothers, or simply appreciating the mothers around us, we can all help spread love in its truest form.

Because love is not just about words—it’s about care, protection, and devotion. And no one embodies this more than a mother.