Unchanged new edition. The mother-child bond is one of the closest and most important connections between two people. Above all, it is the first interpersonal relationship that influences every subsequent relationship and a child's self-esteem. This book illustrates how the mother-child bond develops during the various phases of pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. It presents the key theoretical foundations and studies on the significance of the mother-child bond and the formation of the family—providing the theoretical basis for understanding the effects of disrupted bonding on children's behavior. The question arises as to how prenatal care, obstetrics, and postpartum care must be structured to facilitate a strong and secure mother-child bond.