The results of a new study published in the Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry indicates that mothers who deliver their children via C-section are less responsive to their babies’ cries than those who deliver naturally. The scientists from the Child Study Center at Yale University who conducted the study believe that natural childbirth releases important hormones for the child and mother. These hormones impact the responsiveness of the maternal brain.
"As more women opt to wait until they are older to have children, and by association be more likely to have a caesarean section delivery, these results are important because they could provide better understanding of the basic neurophysiology and psychology of parent-infant attachment," said Dr. James Swain, one of the study’s authors.
IMPORTANT: As was noted in the article on this study on WebMD, "Don’t panic or think you did the wrong thing by having a C-section because it may be that these differences are just in the initial phases and it may take the oxytocin awhile to build up after a C-section delivery. Or maybe C-section moms may make up for it later with normal cuddling and hugging and nursing," Swain says.
It is well known that spontaneous, vaginal birth encourages optimal bonding. The best analysis I'm aware of is the book by the French obstetrician, Michele O'Dent. Check into The Scientification of Love for a practically-based literature review.
This book is listed on my blog under "Books on Complementary Mental Health".
Thank you, Katherine, for pointing out that bonding is not a one-shot process. It happens over our lifetime.
While I understand the research, I would warn everyone to read this with caution. Articles like these can scare women away from a procedure that often makes the difference between a healthy baby and one who ends up in the NICU. Not every cesarean birth is a horror story, often the healthcare providers are trying to do their best to deliver a healthy child to a healthy mom.
My son was breech and big (10lbs), my OB had no choice but to deliver him by cesarean section. He is stuck to me like glue, figuratively speaking and I love every minute of it. He was on me the minute he came out and still tries to sleep on top of me!!! So I urge you to read studies like these with caution. Because indeed, bonding occurs over time, and has to be nurtured one hug, smle, kiss and touch at a time.
I'm curious about 1) why the women had C-sections, 2) how they judged whether a mother was responsive or not, 3) how long they followed the mothers.
It seems that a mother who has had a C-section may suffer physical and emotional discomfort longer than a woman who has given birth vaginally, which could slow responses. They may also have underlying health issues. Once they feel better, it seems logical that they can be more responsive.
Ultimately, though, it's not a very useful study unless they also look at women have have adopted infants. Using the logic of this study, if they didn't even give birth to them, adoptive mothers should be especially non-responsive or slow to respond to their infants.
I don’t feel like having a c-section affected the bonding between my son and I much at all. I had to have an emergency c-section. I was very emotional and it was a tramatic experience so I can’t tell you how long I was under the knife for. After word they brought my son to me and immediately I put him to my breast, it only took a few moments to figure out how to get him to latch for the first time. We bonded from that moment on.
Now my son is 6 months old,I’m still breastfeeding him and we are both very happy together, I would say we have a great bond. Even me being a first time mom I feel like I pretty much know my sons needs and what he is asking for most of the time.
I thinking can be more beificial to have a vaginal birth but ultimately what really maters is both mother and child are safe and healthy, just add some T.L.C. And the rest will fallow <3