Is Mother's Intuition Real?

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CLEVELAND - This Sunday is Mother’s Day.

Have you ever noticed that your mom always seems to know when something is wrong?

Some people call it mother’s intuition, but is that actually a real thing?

“A mother's intuition is a very real phenomenon. It is described as a gut level of awareness of what is happening with your child, whether it is what they need, what they are feeling, or if they are in danger based on no information or explanation,” said Susan Albers, PsyD, psychologist at Cleveland Clinic.

Dr. Albers said neurobiology and learned history both play a role when it comes to mother’s intuition.

She explains that when a mother spends time with her child, oxytocin is released in the brain, which bonds them.

And that in turn can strengthen their connection and her ability to decipher what the child may be thinking or feeling.

Mothers also spend thousands of hours with their child and start to pick up on patterns, so when their behavior changes, for example, they can tell.

“The good news is that you are not just born with intuition, it can be built. You can strengthen your mother's intuition by spending time with your child, being truly present and attuned instead of distracted,” said Dr. Albers. “Also, listening to your gut and reflecting on how that matches up with the reality of the situation. By tuning in, asking yourself, pausing and reflecting, this can help you to boost and raise your mother's intuition over time.”

Dr. Albers said it’s important to know the difference between mother’s intuition and anxiety.

Intuition is more of a calm inner voice nudging you that something doesn't seem quite right, whereas anxiety can feel loud and chaotic, kind of like an alarm system going off.