This is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach aimed at understanding how mothers perceived the moment of childbirth and how the actions of the professionals contributed to facilitate their closeness to their babies. Twenty-five multiparous women in a public maternity in Rio de Janeiro who had had low risk, normal labor deliveries were interviewed. The analysis of the reports revealed that immediate care given to babies away from their mother's view generates in mothers concern, a feeling of distance and fear of being separated from the baby. However, some women valued the interventionist assistance because they believe that this care is indispensable to ensure their child's physical integrity. Although they valued closeness to their babies in the immediate post-labor period, the surveyed mothers failed to notice the interference of this initial contact for the establishment of an early bond because of a number of factors, among them social-cultural ones.
Parturition; Infant, newborn; Neonatal nursing; Perinatal care