What action is necessary for a mother to bond with her infant as soon as possible after a C-section?

Encouraging skin-to-skin contact is crucial for fostering the initial bond between a mother and her infant after a C-section. This practice, sometimes referred to as kangaroo care, provides numerous benefits. It allows for the mother to hold her infant against her bare chest, which promotes physical intimacy, warmth, and comfort for both the mother and the baby. This immediate contact can regulate the newborn’s heart rate, temperature, and stress levels, while also facilitating breastfeeding initiation.

Skin-to-skin contact has been shown to enhance maternal bonding by increasing maternal instincts and feelings of attachment. It encourages the release of oxytocin, often called the "bonding hormone," which can help in establishing a loving relationship right from the start. This nurturing experience is especially important after a surgical delivery, as mothers may have added physical barriers to immediate interaction with their infants due to recovery from the procedure.

Other options, such as setting a feeding schedule immediately, allowing the infant to sleep alone, or promising no visitors for the first day, do not prioritize the immediate emotional and physical connection that skin-to-skin contact provides. Instead, these actions might inadvertently delay or weaken the bonding experience, which is crucial in the early postnatal period.