Which practice facilitates attachment after birth?

Which practice facilitates attachment after birth?

• A. Early skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth.
• B. Isolating mother from infant.
• C. Delaying contact.
• D. Reducing rooming-in.

Answer: (A)

Proximity and physical closeness right after birth strongly supports attachment. When a newborn is placed skin-to-skin on the mother’s chest immediately, both stay in close contact that activates bonding signals. For the mother, this contact triggers the release of oxytocin, a hormone that enhances warmth, caregiving behaviors, and responsiveness. For the baby, the warmth, steady heartbeat, and familiar scent help regulate breathing and heart rate, calm the infant, and encourage rooting and feeding cues. This immediate closeness also promotes initiating breastfeeding, which increases repeated, meaningful interactions between parent and baby, reinforcing secure, positive connections.

Keeping mother and infant apart removes these powerful bonding cues, making it harder for them to read and respond to each other’s needs early on. Delaying contact or reducing rooming-in limits chances for sustained eye contact, touch, and responsiveness, which are essential for developing attunement and trust between parent and child.

So, initiating skin-to-skin contact right after birth creates the conditions—hormonal, physiological, and behavioral—that most effectively foster attachment.