Aspects of the mother-infant relationship during nursing, 1 and 6 weeks after early extended post-partum contact.

Two groups of mothers receiving different amounts of contact with their infants immediately after delivery were compared. Three aspects of the mother-infant relationship during breastfeeding were selected for analysis: (1) the behaviour of the mother when the baby was attached versus unattached to the nipple, (2) maternal behaviour when the baby's eyes were open/closed, (3) the behaviour of the mother before, during and after the baby had been fretting or crying. Significant differences on all three measures were found between the two groups during the first week after delivery. No differences were observed six weeks post-partum.