IMPEDIMENTS TO THE PROFESSIONAL ROLE OF THE MIDWIFE IN FOSTERING SECURE ATTACHMENT BONDING

Abstract

The human system of attachment, understood as the way we seek to establish close, safe and significant relationships throughout life; it’s an inherent, neurobiological and natural process to all individuals. Depending on life experiences, since gestation, birth, the neonatal period and the rest of childhood, all human beings develop a predominant pattern of attachment, which can be secure or insecure in any of their subtypes. It is known with ample evidence that a secure pattern of attachment is closely related with psycho-emotional characteristics that provide welfare to the individual throughout the different stages of their life, and which help build secure bonds as a base for their early development, as well as their adulthood. In this context, the midwives care received by the binomial can significantly impact the moulding of a secure bond and pattern. Therefore this article’s objective is to reflect about the impediments that may be found in the professional rol of midwives to encourage the development of secure attachment patterns, from a place of professional sensitization, a deeper understanding of the subject, and the context of clinical conditions; as well as simultaneously contribute recommendations that may be considered for the improvement of those difficulties.