The Importance of Maintain the Mother - Infant Dyad in Maternal Support

Background: The mother-infant dyad, proximity, and interactions after birth represent a fundamental biological and emotional unit for the neonate and mother. While much of the existing literature emphasizes neonatal benefits, preserving this dyad is equally critical for maternal well-being and empowering the mother's competence and expertise. Unnecessary separations (especially during the hospitalization of the neonate) may negatively affect maternal mental health, breastfeeding success, and confidence in the maternal role. Objective: This review aimed to explore the significance of maintaining the mother-infant dyad with a focus on maternal support, including psychological, physiological, and social dimensions. Methods: This narrative review analyzed data from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar (۲۰۱۵-۲۰۲۴) using keywords such as "continuous matemal-infant contact," "skin-to-skin care," "rooming-in," "mental health," "empowering," "competence," and "family-centered practices in routine maternity and neonatal intensive care." After screening, ۳۰ relevant articles were selected for review. Results: Findings indicate that mother-infant closeness reduces maternal anxiety and postpartum depression, strengthens maternal identity, and enhances confidence in caregiving. Continuous contact and skin-to-skin care stimulate oxytocin release, which fosters emotional well-being and supports lactation. Active maternal involvement in NICU care reduces feelings of guilt and helplessness, while also promoting maternal empowerment. Furthermore, institutional policies that encourage dyad preservation communicate social support for the maternal role, thereby improving maternal satisfaction and overall quality of life. Conclusion: Supporting mothers and maintaining the mother-infant bond during a newborn's NICU stay is crucial for the baby's health and the mother's well-being. The Mother Baby Care model innovatively applies rooming-in and couplet care principles, allowing high-risk newborns to stay with their mothers in a specialized Labor-Delivery-Recovery-Postpartum (LDRP)/NICU suite instead of being separated in the NICU. This approach ensures continuous care and bonding. Integrating policies and practices that minimize separation and encourage maternal participation should be prioritized in maternity wards and NICUs to strengthen maternal mental health, confidence, empowering and caregiving capacity.