The dynamic between early infant behavior and caregiver sensitivity can be complex. It is also fundamental in shaping early infant development and long‑term psychological well‑being. Several studies confirm a positive association between caregiver sensitivity in the postpartum period and secure parent–infant attachment relationships. Oxytocin has emerged as a key neurohormone influencing this process.
The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the neurobiological basis of mother–infant bonding in response to the oxytocin system and propose favorable midwifery practices that enhance its natural secretion.
This study is a narrative review. Studies published between 2015 and 2025 were selected regardless of design, aiming to summarize the current evidence. A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify articles examining the oxytocin’s role in infant–maternal bonding and favorable midwifery practices that enhance this process. The databases used were PubMed, Scopus, and PsycINFO using keywords such as “oxytocin”, “maternal bonding”, “attachment” and “neurobiology”.
Findings indicate that oxytocin facilitates bonding through modulation of several pathways. Oxytocin, is a neuropeptide synthesized in the hypothalamus which enhances activity in the nucleus accumbens, reinforcing maternal caregiving, modulates amygdala responses, reducing fear and stress and promotes recognition of social cues and attentional focus on infant signals. Such findings may support evidence-based midwifery training and perinatal care strategies fostering maternal–infant well-being. Emerging evidence also indicates oxytocin’s role in paternal bonding and co-parental synchronization.
Midwifery‑led care practices such as skin‑to‑skin contact, breastfeeding, physical touch, exposure to maternal live voice (speaking or singing), and supportive birth environments further enhance natural oxytocin release in infants, mothers and fathers. Limitations include variability in measurement methods and inconsistent correlations between peripheral and central oxytocin activity. Overall, this review highlights oxytocin’s multidimensional role in establishing bonding and underscores the importance of the midwifery-led care model as a neurobiologically attuned model for optimizing early attachment outcomes.
