This study investigated the effects of early mother-infant contact on the perceptions, attitudes, and behavior of mothers following cesarean birth. Forty mothers who delivered infants by cesarean section were randomly assigned to the control group or the study group. Mothers in the control group received the traditional procedures following a cesarean birth, which allowed only brief contact with their infant during the first 12 hours. Mothers in the study group participated in a program designed to provide early contact between mothers and infants during the first 12 hours after the cesarean section. The results of the study suggest that there is a time following birth in which contact between the mother and infant significantly affects mothering. This research provides direct implications that hospitals should adopt routines that encourage early mother-infant contact following cesarean birth.