Attachment Theory | Nursing

Running head: NURSING
NURSING
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

NURSING1
Introduction
Bonding is important to person’s lifetime developmental procedure. Attachment theory
explains relationship or binding as a continual process wherein a child is likely to create an
association with the mother. The chief hour of life following to the birth is considered as an
appropriate time for mother and child bonding to proceed. Such a development facilitates parents
as well as infants to unwillingly form a fostering linkage that is imperative for the forthcoming
growth of an infant. Gerstein, Poehlmann-Tynan and Clark (2014) have conjectured that the
growth of bonding initiates throughout the time of pregnancy as well as is typically endures all
through the life. Furthermore, Boundy et al. (2016) have found that an effectual mother-newborn
attachment necessitates that newborns and mothers be attached to each other in the way whereby
newborns can point to their needs while mothers can react. According to Baley (2015), when
these conditions authorize, newborns must significantly found skin-to-skin interaction with their
mothers immediately after the birth in order to stimulate initial and primary initiation of
attachment. However, the natural mother and infant relationship and the attachment development
tend to be delayed by number of factors related to illness which further necessitates that infant be
acknowledged in neonatal intensive care (NICU). During this phase, the limitations of NICUs
typically avert mothers from nurturing bond with their newborns (Gerstein, Poehlmann-Tynan
and Clark 2014). The following paper will aim to provide reflective piece as a clinical
practitioner and facilitate mother with baby bathing. Additionally, the paper will consider
attachment process by shedding light on Bowlby’s attachment theory. Furthermore, the paper
will analyse kangaroo contact to facilitate the mother to initiate skin-to-skin and breastfeeding
and develop attachment between maternal and new born.
Discussion

NURSING2
Facilitating mother for baby bathing
Child rearing exercise during the first year differs from nation to nation. Reasons for this
practice tend to show variation but involve the perceived requirement of cleansing the newborn.
The amount of bathing which is done is likely to be consistent across cultural backgrounds.
According to Jones and Santamaria (2018), unless contradicted, majority of infants can be bathed
in sink at bed side or on bedstead in a normal bath tub positioned on the unit that is typically
adopted for paediatric use. Baley (2015) has noted that baby bath is explained as cleaning the
skin of the newborn for encouraging hygiene as well as wellbeing in the home-setting. As a
clinical practitioner, I have facilitated the new mother to take care of her newborn baby for baby
bathing practice. During this process, I have introduced the mother with three vital types of
bathing namely lap bath, warm and hot water tub bath. According to Mörelius et al. (2015),
warm water tub bed bath is typically given in order to decrease muscle pressure; with
temperature level of the water is 109.4 F and observes the indicators and signs of dizziness. Lap
bath associates with the bathing of the body resting on the lap.
As a clinical practitioner, I have trained the new mother to bathe the baby on lap by
sitting on chair and can sponge as well as change. Learning the way to bathe a newborn properly
is time consuming practice. However, it is important to understand that while some newborn
babies like to be bare, but majority of them do not. As a result, it is vital to remove all clothing of
newborn except the diaper and swaddle the new born in a towel. During this process, I have
instructed the mother to hold the baby on lap while being seated on chair with the bath kit on the
adjacent table or stand up at the counter holding the new born lying on pad of thick towels. The
new mother then has been instructed to hold her baby in clutch hold and afterwards squeeze little
amount of warm water on top of infant’s head and apply a dab of baby shampoo and afterwards

NURSING3
apply gentle massage on the entire scalp. Most importantly, as a clinical practitioner I have
cautioned the new mother to use no special press over the soft spot. As per studies, new born
babies’ skin tends to be highly sensitive and all kinds of soaps are mild irritants. However, the
use of the soap is to gently suspend particles and oils on the surface of the skin with an intention
of their removal from the skin with water.
Bowlby Attachment Theory
In the view of Bowlby (2018), over the neonatal period, new born babies begin to
recognize their primary caregivers mostly mothers by means of numerous associations most
importantly bathing and consequently feels soothed by their touch and presence, thus develops
attachment between mother and child. Bowlby’s attachment theory suggested the multifaceted
collection of attachment emotions and behavioural patterns and evolved in order to ascertain the
protection of the infant by preserving proximity to the mother. Furthermore, Bowlby’s
attachment theory posited that close attachment with mother tends to ease emotional regulation
along with healthy psychological development within the infant (Bowlby 2017). Moreover,
Bowlby’s attachment theory has been grounded on explaining the characteristics and function of
behaviours which result to attachment. According to Ein-Dor and Hirschberger, (2016), infants
use numerous behavioural patterns for seeking proximity to their attachment figures such as
weeping, vocalizing and following and also use behavioural patterns to maintain proximity such
as smiling and clinging. However, from Bowlby’s studies on children, it has been noted that
continued partings from primary caregiver mostly mother, leads to the next phase of separation
wherein objections and searching which are not effective tend to be a period of despair (Bowlby
2018). On the other hand, Ein-Dor and Hirschberger, (2016) by drawing insights from Bowlby’s
attachment theory have claimed that attachment depictions most initiate from one primary