Expectant mothers contemplating their birthing options might want to think twice when it comes to cesarean sections. According to a recent study that will be published by Yale School of Medicine researchers in the October issue of Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, the bonds that tie a mother to her newborn may be stronger in women who deliver naturally than in those who deliver by cesarean section.
In the study, two groups of six mothers from postpartum wards were recruited. One group included women who delivered naturally and the other group delivered by cesarean section. Two to three weeks after giving birth, each mother was interviewed and given a brain scan. During the scans, mothers listened to recordings of their own baby’s cry during a diaper change. Researches also conducted interviews to assess the mothers’ mood as well as their thoughts.
The scans revealed that mothers who delivered naturally had greater activity in certain areas of the brain than mothers who delivered by c-section when hearing their baby’s cry.
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.
The researchers were led by Yale Child Study Center Assistant Professor James Swain, M.D.
"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."
According to Swain, at the time of the scans, two to three weeks following delivery, all the mothers were in good health. However, it's debatable whether or not all the mothers were in equal good health.
Following a vaginal delivery, a mother will typically go home in a day or two and return to normal activities in one to two weeks.
By contrast, mothers who deliver by cesarean section go home three to five days after surgery but it might require four or more weeks to recover. Also, c-section mothers are likely to have vaginal bleeding and be taking pain medication while their incision heals.
Whether or not the physical effects of a c-section on the mother, so soon after delivery, contributed to the results of the study is unknown.
"There are plenty of good reasons for cesarean sections, and we would not want our work to be misinterpreted as proving that mothers who opt for c-sections are destined for trouble. On the contrary, we hope to provoke support from family and perhaps health professionals after C-sections. In the future, it may be possible to prevent postpartum depression."
"These results provoke many questions and may help expectant mothers as they consider their options carefully," said Swain.
Other authors on the study include Esra Tasgin, Linda C. Mayes, Ruth Feldman, R. Todd Constable and James F. Leckman.
