Birth, Bonding and Baby Behaviour

This book about Birth, Bonding and Baby Behaviour investigates the many factors surrounding childbirth and the early postnatal period that influence parents’ mental health, parent-infant bonding, and infant behaviour and temperament. Beyond the purely physiological processes of labour and birth, it investigates the mother’s subjective and emotional journey by examining how supported she feels, how she experiences the birth, and how those experiences affect her in the days and weeks that follow. The book explores the impact of physical and psychological experiences during childbirth on the well-being of both mother and baby, providing insights into the complex interplay between the mother’s body and mind and the infant’s behaviour and development. It is a vital resource for midwives and other healthcare professionals who work with mothers and infants during childbirth.

The book presents three original, in-depth studies, situating these findings within the broader context of existing research. In doing so, it offers a nuanced perspective on childbirth as not only a medical event but also a profoundly human experience with lasting consequences for both mother and child. By the end, readers will have a deeper understanding and greater compassion for childbirth as a holistic, transformative, and life-changing experience – one that shapes the foundations of the mother-baby bond and helps determine the infant’s early development.

Foreword by Professor Lesley Page, Oxford