Psychosocial support during childbirth and early mother and newborn relationship

Abstract

The birth a newborn baby can be one of the most touching events, not only for the mother and family, but also for those of us who help, accompany or observe it. There are several personal, family and social factors, together with some others related to the Health System, that influence the «sense of motherhood» . Some of them can be studied in order to improve the care and support that mother and child receive from the nurses and medical staff during childbirth.

This work presented in this article is the initiative of a group of professionals interested in analysing midwives” involvement in the interactions established between mother and child at the moment of birth. We describe both behaviours in an etnographic qualitative study of eight cases. Proposals for the development of a protocol that could unify and regulate midwives” actions relative, basically, to pyhcological support are offered.