Not interacting with my baby enough

[Melcro]

Hi, I have a beautiful 8 month old and currently 4 months pregnant with no.2.

im feeling such mum guilt, I feel like I don’t interact with her enough. I spend a lot of time on my phone which I recognised and trying to stop it. I had such bad morning sickness I had no choice but to sit her infront of the tv all day as I couldn’t move, she was watching miss Rachel which is educational but I feel like she loves her more than me.
i try play toys but she’s quite independent, I don’t really have any toys to play together, she’s jot interested in books just wants to roll. I feel I don’t play with her enough and I feel awful, I don’t know how to interact with her more. We go baby classes, walks etc. maybe need some times j can show her how to play? Not sure how to make her feel more wanted by me as I feel she doesn’t love me!

Talk to her.
Take her out in the pram and point out things like a bus - and make the noise brum brum, and a cat - meow.
Start singing nursery rhymes to her. They tend to like repetition.

I think you're in the stage where it's all about surviving the inevitable exhaustion! You're doing fine! Morning sickness is absolutely rough! My ds is 6mths old and he's at his happiest rolling about the floor with some plastic kitchen utensils and tupperware! If you're worried about it you could think about things you can do together sitting down, like reading together, listening to songs and singing together, using a busy board together. A lot of the time at this age they just love having you beside them as they experience everything. Don't beat yourself up, pregnancy is tough enough when you've no children and can nap freely never mind when you've a little one to look after at the same time!

Something I tried was just narrating what I noticed my baby doing. It made me pay attention to him and also meant I was talking and he could hear.

I don’t think you need to teach your baby anything in particular. What they really need is ‘attunement’ which is (as I understand it) where you are paying attention and respond to their needs.

You can also narrate what you yourself are doing. Explain that you’re getting up and getting a mug, that this is your favourite because it’s green.

But also, give yourself a break. You’re pregnant with a tiny baby. It’s sort of boring and sort of hard work and also your hormones will be all over the place. If you love your baby that’s beautiful and the main thing.

Your baby does love you. They can’t help it! It’s part of the survival instinct I think. You don’t have to worry about it (easy to say I know).

Have you thought about putting her in nursery a couple of half days to give you a break to rest ?

She is young. She won't even remember this time and I don't think it will damage her mentally. Not long ago parents didn't bother interacting with their babies at all and they survived.