1. Vulnerability, Support & New Research
in Mother-Infant Bonding
Created to Connect Lauren Porter, Centre for Attachment, Taranaki
NZ Homebirth Conference, 29 October 2011

2. Supporting a relationship....

3. Early Separation
Bystrova, Uvnas-Moberg, et al,
2009 (Early Contact vs Separation: Effects on
Mother-Infant Interaction One Year Later in Birth,
36:2, June 2009)

4. Sensitive Periods
•Contact after birth (oxytocin)
‣Skin to skin
‣Swaddling
‣Suckling
•Maternal sensitivity
•Infant self-regulation
•Mutuality

5. Epigenetics & the work of Michael Meaney
(Meaney et al, Nature Neuroscience 2004, Epigenetic programming by maternal
behavior, 847-854.)

6. “The single most important factor determining the
quality of mother-offspring interactions is the mental
and physical health of the mother. This is equally
true in rats, monkeys and humans.”
-Dr. Michael Meaney

7. Supporting & Healing
• If the mother-infant bond:
‣ has a sensitive period
‣ is essential for health
‣ has long term implications
‣ and can be impacted/
changed...
• How do we support bonding
and also create change when
necessary?

8. Seeing, allowing, understanding, loving...
being with

9. Community
Whanau
Mother
Baby

10. video clip (‘being with’)

11. THANK YOU
Lauren@centreforattachment.com