Prematurity and the associated maternal-infant separation after birth can affect the attachment
procRss. The roie of nurses in facilitating the process ef attachment should be based on an understanding
of these behaviors. Tbis descriptive study explored the attachment bBbaviors demonstrated
by mothers during their finst visit witb tbeir premature infant in the neonatal care unit. The
results revealed tbat all motbers demonstrated most attacbment behaviors (ie, inspection, facial
expression, toucbing, verbal expression, and eye-to-eye contact) except holding during tbeir first
visit. However, some motbers speni little time witb their infant. Tbe findings suggest tbal nurses
should encourage mothers to interact with their infants in order to enbaiice maternal-intant attacbment.
Key words: (iltacbment. NICU. parenting, preterm infant