The nurse is discussing parent-infant attachment "with a prenatal class". Which statement indicates that teaching was successful? A. "I should avoid looking directly into the baby's eyes to prevent frightening the baby." B. "My baby will be very sleepy immediately after birth, so he can go to the nursery." C. "Newborns cannot focus their eyes, so it doesn't matter how I hold my new baby." D. "Giving the baby his first bath can really give me a chance to get to know him."

The correct answer is:

Giving the baby his first bath can really give me a chance to get to know him. (D)

Explanation:

Parent-infant attachment, also known as bonding, is the period of intense attachment, that develops between a parent and a baby. It is usually most important within the first hours or days after birth, and it should be noted that infant-parent attachment is different from a parent teaching, entertaining or disciplining a child. During parent-infant attachment, the child develops a feeling of safety, security and protection.

Parent-infant attachment occurs in the following ways:

1. Touch: skin-to-skin contact between the care giver and the infant is a form of early language for the infant, as the infant learns to recognize the difference between the feeling of the parent's touch and an external touch

2. Eye-to-eye contact, is paramount, as the baby learns to recognize patterns in the parent's facial expression during this period.

3. Voice recognition: overtime, as a result of continuous exposure, babies recognize and react to their mother's voice, and the mothers also recognize   and react involuntarily to their baby's cries; for instance, the production and effusion of breast milk from the mother's breasts at the sound of a baby's cries.

Some factors may affect bonding between a parent and an infant and these are mainly due to post natal complications that can play out on the mother either as hormonal imbalances for example leading to postpartum depression or in preterm babies that are taken to intensive care.

In summary the statement made by the parent "Giving the baby his first bath can really give me a chance to get to know him." in option D of the question, shows an understanding of the concept of parent-infant bonding/attachment.