 News
4th September 2008
Natural births strengthen bondingGiving birth
naturally may strengthen the bond between mother and baby, a study suggests. Women
are more emotionally responsive to the cries of babies born without the aid of
surgery, scientists found. It is thought Caesarean delivery - which accounts
for more than half of births at some UK hospitals - stifles production of oxytocin,
a hormone that aids bonding. The British and U.S. scientists studied 12
new mothers, half of whom had had a C-section. Scans showed that several
brain regions, including those that deal with emotions, empathy and motivation,
lit up more in the mothers who had given birth naturally when they listened to
recordings of their babies crying. Research leader Dr James Swain, of Yale
University, said: 'As more women opt to wait until they are older to have children,
and by association are more likely to have a Caesarean delivery, these results
are important because they provide a better understanding of the basic neurophysiology
and psychology of parent-infant attachment.' Where to next?
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