Title

Maternal-Infant Bonding: A Review of Literature.

Authors

Johnson, Kayla

Abstract

The quality of the maternal-infant relationship has a significant influence on maternal mental health and infant well-being, development, and adaptation throughout life. Bonding is a unique and long-term emotional tie that begins with the first contact between the mother and infant and continues throughout the postpartum period. Postnatal separation has negative outcomes on the mother-infant bonding process. Mothers who participated in immediate skin-to-skin contact and initiated breastfeeding within two hours following childbirth were more sensitive to the infant's needs and the child seemed more content at one year. Inadequate mother-infant relationships result in long-term consequences for the child. Poor interactions affect the child's cognitive and socio-emotional development, physical health, and personal relationships.

Subjects

BREASTFEEDING; CHILDREN'S health; MENTAL health; MOTHER-infant relationship; PSYCHOLOGY of mothers; OXYTOCIN; PARENT-infant relationships; POSTNATAL care

Publication

International Journal of Childbirth Education, 2013, Vol 28, Issue 3, p17

ISSN

0887-8625

Publication type

Academic Journal