This study tested the hypotheses that the earlier the mother holds her infant after delivery the sooner she will develop feelings of maternal attachment, and the more positive her self-esteem the sooner she will develop feelings of maternal attachment. A voluntary sample of 67 mothers completed self-administered questionnaires including the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and three tools designed for use in this study. Findings from Pearson product-moment correlations supported the first hypothesis but not the second. Implications for health care practice and research are discussed.