HUMAN MATERNAL BEHAVIOR AT THE FIRST CONTACT WITH HER YOUNG

Abstract

To explore and eamine maternal behavior in human mothers at the first postnatal contact with their young, we quantitatively analyzed photographs taken every second during the first 10 minutes of each contact. We recorded and studied this behavior in 12 mothers 1/2 to 13 1/2 hours following delivery, with their normal, full-term infants undressed and placed beside them, and in 9 other mothers during their first three tactile contacts with their premature infants (weighing 1,150 to 1,870 gm) in incubators. An orderly progression of behavior was observed in mothers of full-term infants: the mothers started with fingertip touch on the infants' extremities and proceeded in 4 to 8 minutes to massaging, encompassing palm contact on the trunk. In the first 3 minutes fingertip contact was 52%, with 28% palm contact. In the last 3 minutes of observation, fingertip contact decreased to 26% and palm contact increased to 62%. An intense interest in eye-to-eye contact was observed at the first contact. Mother-to-infant eye-to-eye contact appears to be an important exchange during the development of affectional ties. Mothers of normal premature infants permitted to touch them in the first 3 to 5 days of life followed a similar sequence, but at a much slower rate. Our results reveal suggestive evidence of species-specific behavior in human mothers at the first contact with their full-term infants and suggest that a re-evaluation is required of the present hospital policies which regulate care of the mother and infant.