Natural Birth Results to Stronger Baby Bonding Compared to C-Sections

Filed in archive Childbirth on September 21, 2008

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If you're considering an elective cesarian section to deliver your child, here's something to consider: a new study indicates that the mother-baby bonding is stronger among those who went through natural childbirth, compared to those who went through a CS.

The team found that compared to mothers who delivered by cesarean section, those who delivered vaginally had greater activity in certain brain regions in response to their own baby's cry as measured by fMRI. These brain areas included cortical regions that regulate emotions and empathy, as well as deeper brain structures that contribute to motivation, and habitual thoughts and behaviors. The responses to their own baby's cry in some of these regions varied according to mood and anxiety.

Swain said that no parent in the small study developed clinical depression, making it hard to assess the significance of the findings without replication and follow-up studies. "I suspect that the parental brain is 'primed' by vaginal delivery and affected by neurohormonal factors such as oxytocin, a hormone linked to emotional connections and feelings of love," said Swain. "C-sections may alter these neurohormonal factors and increase the risk of problematic bonding and postpartum depression."

If you think of the biology of childbirth and parenting, of course it makes sense. This is what nature meant the body to do and it is plausible that a natural childbirth sets off a series of bodily changes that may be important in the success of parenting, particularly in the initial period. Of course, this does not mean, though, that those who gave birth via cesarian section will never be able to connect with their baby and nurture them equally well as those who gave birth vaginally. After all, it's a continuous effort to build true, meaningful bonds between parents and their children.