Bonding with a newborn after delivery is more than a sacred maternal rite of passage. Those first moments and the days that follow the delivery form a strong attachment between newborns and parent(s) or primary caregiver. Even when medical care interrupts this bonding process, smiling faces establish a deep human connection for the infant to feel she is welcome in this world.
According to CMS, routine medical care for low-income children declined sharply during the March to May shutdown – a trend that could cause long-term harm if not reversed. The agency found that vaccinations, screening for childhood diseases, visits to the dentist, and even mental health had plummeted.
Even though school and business activity are slowly returning to normal, healthcare schedules do not show the anticipated uptick after such a shutdown.
