Starting the process of mother–infant bonding

Abstract

Establishing a bond between a mother and her newborn is essential for the infant to grow and thrive in the mother's care. Hospital staff can promote the creation of this bond by providing continuous support during labor, by placing the newborn skin-to-skin on the mother's chest immediately after delivery until the infant latches on for the first feeding, by encouraging continued breastfeeding, and by keeping mother and infant always together in the first hours and days after delivery. Conclusion: Even in cases where the mother initially rejects her infant, sensitive medical personnel can provide an environment which allows the bond between mother and infant to begin.