maternal care
A mother's attention
Maternal care is the nurturing and protection a mother provides to her offspring.
The term appears in biology, medicine, and social policy: Maternal care in mammals includes nursing and grooming.
In healthcare contexts, it often refers specifically to medical attention during pregnancy and after childbirth: Access to maternal care reduces infant mortality.
- breastfeedingLactation-based infant nourishment
- night feedingCaring for hungry infant overnight
- bondingForming close connections
- nutritionBodily use of food
- first stepsInitial actions taken
soothing · baby talk · tummy time · socialization · skin-to-skin · education · affection · grooming · moral instruction · protection · safe haven · mentoring · empathy · warmth · family traditions · attachment · gentle touch · storytelling
- healthcaredoctors, nurses, hospitals, hospital, clinic
- motherhoodmom, mama, mum, mommy, motherhood
- public healthdisease prevention, immunization, disease control, health education, epidemiology
- health servicespediatrics, geriatrics, medical aid, hospice, rehabilitation services
- medical aidmedical aid, doctor, medical relief, surgeon, hospital
- reproductive healthpregnancy, infertility, childbirth, male infertility, fertility rates
maternal carechild abandonment
Deserting one's minor dependents
orphanhood · foster care · parental neglect · emotional unavailability · institutional care
maternal carechild abuse
Harm inflicted on minors
child endangerment · filicide · infanticide · Munchausen by proxy