A nurse is caring for a woman who gave birth three hours ago. The nurse observes that the woman is holding her infant close to her chest and is talking softly to him. The nurse interprets this behaviour as:

The correct answer is choice B. Attachment.

Attachment is the process of developing a strong emotional bond between the mother and the infant.

It is influenced by factors such as maternal hormones, infant cues, and environmental support.

Attachment behaviors include holding, touching, talking, and gazing at the infant.

Choice A is wrong because bonding is the initial attraction felt by the parents for their infant.

It usually occurs within the first few minutes or hours after birth and is facilitated by skin-to-skin contact.

Choice C is wrong because engrossment is the term used to describe the father’s absorption, preoccupation, and interest in the infant.

It involves visual awareness, tactile awareness, perception of newborn as perfect, strong attraction, awareness of distinct features, extreme elation, and increased sense of self-esteem.

Choice D is wrong because entrainment is the term used to describe the infant’s movement in response to speech.

The infant synchronizes his or her movements with the rhythm and pitch of the adult’s voice.

Encourage her to participate in support groups.This is because support groups can help the postpartum client to share her feelings, learn coping skills, and receive emotional and social support from other mothers who have experienced postpartum depression.Support groups can also reduce the sense of isolation and stigma that some women with postpartum depression may feel.

Encourage her to sleep as much as possible is wrong because sleeping too much can be a sign of depression and can interfere with the mother’s ability to bond with her baby and perform daily activities.Sleeping too little can also worsen symptoms or increase the likelihood of postpartum depression due to sleep deprivation. Therefore, the mother should be encouraged to follow a healthy sleep routine and get help from others if needed.

Encourage her to avoid talking about her feelings is wrong because talking about feelings is an important part of psychotherapy, which is a recommended treatment for postpartum depression.Talking about feelings can help the mother to express her emotions, identify negative thoughts, and receive feedback and guidance from a mental health professional. Avoiding talking about feelings can lead to further isolation and distress.

Encourage her to spend time alone as much as possible is wrong because spending time alone can also increase the sense of isolation and loneliness that some women with postpartum depression may experience. Spending time alone can also prevent the mother from receiving help and support from others, such as her partner, family, friends, or healthcare providers. The mother should be encouraged to seek social support and engage in enjoyable activities with others.