Mother‑Infant Interaction
Early contact between infants and mothers is vital for initiating their relationship (Hunt 2008 p48). Neonatal nurses play a crucial role in assisting the attachment process by promoting and encouraging early mother‑infant interaction (Chia and Sellick 2005 p20). Ways in which the nurse can support the mother and infant to interact directly are presented within the following three sub‑themes of kangaroo care, breastfeeding and participation in routine care.
Kangaroo care chest of the mother (Chia and Sellick 2005 p20; Feldman Seven studies reported that KC enabled mothers to have physical contact with their infant, which enhanced mother infant attachment and contributed to early developme felt an intense feeling of connectedness during KC, which provided them with a sense that they were nurturing their infant. This in turn enhanced maternal confidence. Research by Feldman et al (2002 p21) revealed that the level of dyadic reciprocity between mothers who provided KC to their infants, including those classed as high‑risk was significantly higher than those who did not provide KC.