establishing the bond between mother and newborn.and letting go.
(this page discusses that one is able to help an animal to give birth on the sabbath, and suggestions of how to encourage the mother to bond with the newborn if the mother is showing that she is distancing herself from it. earlier in the page when discussing about carrying various animals on shabbat, it compares them with a woman who helps her child walk, and permitted to carrying them on shabbat in public domain only once they are able to lift their feet up and walk independently. for english translation of this talmud page, see here)
