Left‐side preference in holding and carrying newborn infants

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Abstract
ABSTRACT— Observation of maternal infant holding was made during the postnatal week. Among 264 observed mothers 37 were right‐holding and 35 could be traced 3 years later. They were matched with 35 left‐holding mothers. The right‐holding mothers had more contact with the district nurses and Child Health Centres during the 3‐year follow‐up period, although their children were equally healthy. Other between group differences were also found illustrating a greater need for support and more anxiety about their children among right‐holding mothers. Maternal parity seemed to have a stronger correlation to maternal anxiety about her child than did side preference for holding during the lying‐in period.