The influence of skin-to-skin contact on bonding and touch

Abstract

Early skin-to-skin contact is a biological need of newborn infants (Bergman & Bergman, 2013). Preliminary research informs us that this contact directly and indirectly influences the mother-infant relationship. This relationship in turn forms the basis of the infant’s social-emotional development (Phillips, 2013). This study investigated South African mother-infant dyads with and without early skin-to-skin contact and the influence on bonding and touch. Contact over the first 24 hours and bonding were measured within one week postpartum. Tactile interactions in daily routine, touch during face-to-face interaction as well as a repeat of the bonding assessment were completed at six to eight weeks postpartum. No correlation was found between skin-to-skin contact and bonding within one week postpartum. A positive correlation was identified between skin-to-skin contact and bonding as well as an increase in touch in daily living at six to eight weeks postpartum. This was substantiated by an increase in touch during face-to-face interaction. Further more stringent research is however required to confirm these findings.