Is that an old wives’ tale or is there some scientific basis?
In: Biology
Yes there is a scientific base to it. Both mother and baby release lots of hormones during that contact, especially oxytocine wich is the “cuddle/love hormone” and lets both of them bind emotionally to the other.
Lots of later problems can occur if this bonding doesn’t happen (it can also happen later, but right after birth is the easiest because we’re biologically designed to bond right after birth).
Read about [Attachment Theory](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attachment_theory) if you want to know more. There is a chapter about the neurobiology of it.
>Recent studies convey that early attachment relationships become molecularly instilled into the being, thus affecting later immune system functioning.[158] Empirical evidence communicates that early negative experiences produce pro inflammatory phenotype cells in the immune system, which is directly related to cardiovascular disease, autoimmune diseases, and certain types of cancer
As an example
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