Motivation for sterilization: A descriptive study

Abstract

sound, light, and touch, have proved to be asymmetrical under certain c~nditions.')-~r Correlation has been found to exist between the initial head-turning responses of infants two days post-partum and maternal holding preference two to three weeks later.16 This could mean that right-holding is appropriate in normal newborns showing left-side preference in their behavioural reactions. In sick, premature, and/or separated newborns this could be a sign of disturbed neonatal behaviour, as the percentage of asymmetrical responses to stimuli increases. Maternal and paternal handedness has been shown to have no influence on side preference for holding newborns.1.3.sJ1 Whether the holder's handedness fits in with the infant's asymmetrical behaviour and is indirectly correlated with side preference, is currently under investigation in our unit. ReferencesI SALK L: The effects of the normal heartbeat sound on the behaviour of the newborn infant. Implications for mental health. World Ment Health 1 2 : 168, 1g60 2 WEILAND JH: Heartbeat rhythm and maternal behaviour. J Am Acid Child Psychiatr 3 : 161, 1964 3 DE CHATEAU P. HOLMBERG H. WINBERG J: Left-side preference in holding and carrying newborn infants. 1. Mothers holding and carrying during the first week of life. Acta Paediatr Scand 67: 169, 1978 4 DE CHATEAU P. ANDERSON s: Left-side preference in holding and carrying newborn infants. 11. l+ll-holding and carrying from 2 to 16 years. DevMed Child Neurol 1 8 : 738, 1976 5 DE CHATEAU P, DELLERUD I. MEZAN s et al: Left-side preference in holding and carrying newborn infants. IV. Fathers holding and carrying during the first week of life. Manuscript 6 SALK L: The critical nature of the post-partum period in the human for the establishment of the mother-infant bond: a controlled study. Dis Nerv Syst, Supp I I : I 1 0 , I970 haviour one year after delivery and extended postpartum contact. Dev Med Child Neurol16: 172, 1974 8 KLAUS MH, KENNELL JH: Mothers separated from their newborn infants. Pediatr Clin North Am 17: 1 0 1 5 , I970 g NILSSON A: Paranatd emotiond adjustment. Acta Psychiatr Scand, Suppl: 2 2 0 , 1970 10 KAPLAN D. MASON E: Maternal reactions to premature birth viewed as an acute emotional disorder. Am J Orthopsychiatty 30: 539, 1g60 I I DE CHATEAU P , WIBERG B: Long-term effects on motherinfant behaviour of extra contact during the first hour post-partum. 111. Follow-up at one year. Early Hum Dev: in press 1 2 WEILAND I H . SPERBER z: Patterns of mother-infant contact. The significance of lateral preference. J Gen Psy-chol117: 157, 1970 13 MIRANDA SB: Visual abilities and pattern preferences of premature infants and full-term infants. J Erp Child Psychol 1 0 : 189. 1970 14 TURKEWITZ G , MOREAU 1. DAVIS L et al: Factors affecting lateral differentiation in the human newborn. J E r p Child Psychol 8 : 483, 1969 15 TURNER s. MACFARLANE A: Localisation of human speech by the newborn baby and the effects of pethidine (Merepidine). D e v Med Child Neurol 2 0 : 727, 7 KENNELL JH, JERAULD R. WOLFE H et d: Maternal be-I978...