Development of an observational instrument to measure mother-infant separation post birth.

The importance of the timing, quality, and quantity of early maternal-infant contact has gained prominence over the years. However, no researcher has adequately documented the nature of maternal-infant contact and separation. This study assessed the psychometric properties of the Index of Mother-Infant Separation (IMIS), pronounced "I miss," which is a 37-item observational measure of the process of mother-infant contact or separation post birth.