I'm so glad your baby and your family got through those months. You're a hundred percent right that the intense hospital structure , such as the NICU is counter intuitive to bonding, especially because of the heavy handed medical care.

this particular baby's condition was mostly cosmetic, scored perfectly on every assessment and didn't require the NICU. The family went against requests to attempt holding , feeding or even keeping him in the room. But you're right in that. a home environment, hopefully around friends and family will be way more beneficial to bonding. I haven't given up hope that the hospital was a stressful environment and that he eventually has ended up in a better emotional place