The effects of holding the newborn at delivery on paternal bonding.

Thirty-seven married first-time fathers attending uncomplicated deliveries of normal infants were randomly assigned to two groups, holding or not holding at delivery. At 12 to 36 hours postpartum, bonding behavior frequencies were recorded during ten minutes of father-infant interaction. Two observers measured the behaviors; verbal interaction, smiling, eye contact, fingertip and whole-hand touching. Analysis of the data by multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed no difference between the groups (p greater than .05). More bonding behaviors were noted with increased levels of education, male infants, breastfed infants, and outlet-forcep or cesarean-section deliveries. Early contact did not appear to enhance bonding, although several other factors seemed to be related, indicating a need for further study on paternal bonding.