Aim

This concept analysis aimed to offer insight into how opioid exposure affects the quality and construction of the maternal-infant bond.

Background

Maternal-infant bonding can be influenced by maternal opioid use disorder and the neonatal intensive care unit environment. Many interventions for mothers with opioid use disorder focus on enhancing parental skills, but often the emotional and relational features of the maternal-infant bond have been overlooked.

Data Source

Literature from Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Embase, PubMed, and PsycINFO published from January 2011 to June 2021 using “attachment theory,” “mother-infant attachment,” “maternal-infant bonding,” “neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome,” and “neonatal abstinence syndrome” as key terms.

Review Methods

Rodgers' method of concept analysis was used to determine the antecedents, attributes, and consequences of maternal-infant bonding.

Results

The key attributes of bonding for the opioid-exposed mother-infant dyad are engaged mothering, recognition of risk, affection, and respectful maternity care. The antecedents are closeness, selflessness, and purposeful touch. The consequences are sobriety, custody, love, and security.