Puerperae bonding with their children and labor experiences

Abstract

Objective. To analyze the degree of bonding of puerperae with their babies, both in isolation and associated with experiences during and after labor. Methods. A crosssectional study carried out among 200 puerperae in São José do Rio Preto, Brazil. To evaluate the motherchild bond, we used the Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale (MIBS). Results. The mean age of puerperae was 26.4 years; most women were white (60.0%), were married (87.5%), and had an elementary education (51.5%). Most deliveries were cesarean (80.0% of cases); 68.0% of women had no pain during labor, and only 54% had skin-to-skin contact immediately after delivery. Type of labor and pain did not significantly change the maternal bond, and the lack of skin-to-skin contact negatively influenced the bond. Conclusion. Pueperae participants had a high degree of bonding with their babies that is mainly related to history of skin-to-skin contact. Nurses must promote strategies that encourage skin-to-skin contact between mother and newborn in the delivery room.