Yes, in a sample this small if one the women with a c-section began to develop, for instance, post partum depression, which is not linked to how you give birth (as far as anything I’ve read; correct me if I’m wrong), it could totally skew the data and since at 2 or 4 weeks might not be diagnosed, it’s possible something like that could lead researchers to conclude that the c-section “caused” the bonding issues.

The sample is far too small… 12 people, and they only tested at 2 and 4 weeks post-partum. I wonder if still being in pain/recovering from surgery perhaps altered brain scan results? There could be many factors. If they actually wanted something more scientific, I think the sample size should be closer to a 100 and follow the mothers for a longer time to see if there are other factors rather than just the type of birth itself.

12 women is NOT an appropriate sample size at all. Why was this even published? The sample size is really only 6 in a way, since the 12 were split into 2 groups. The journal must have been lacking in articles or just printing it as a courtesy to Yale. I plan to ignore this as a stupid study. I’ll maybe pay attention when the sample size is much larger.

Also… the study was done on 12 women. That is the smallest test group I have ever heard of. How about doing a scan on the brain of adoptive parents after they hold their little ones for the first time?

Candice, only you can say how much you are bonded to your child. You can find adoptive mothers who are more bonded to their children than some vaginal birth mothers. I have a friend who had to have two c-sections, despite trying for a VBAC and you would be hard pressed to find another who is more bonded to her children.

I wish they wouldn’t even do studies like this. Perhaps they are good for OB docs, to encourage them to try harder for vaginal births, but we mothers already beat ourselves up enough that we don’t need researchers to cast more doubt in our minds. And a male lead researcher at that!

I’ve had two vaginal births and with my son I had such a difficult time that the first time I saw him was on our digital camera screen because I was being cared for and couldn’t hold him right away. I’m no less close with him than I am with my daughter.

People shouldn’t be overly sensitive when studies like this come out…just skip over them or read them with a grain of salt.

Whoever did the study could also have easily skewed the data to come up with the desired conclusion, ie, a biased study. No one should feel guilty about how they brought their child into the world. It’s a feat no matter what!

I agree Nancy S, I do not think there are long term effects, although I believe there may be some short term ones.

Candice, it is just a study, take it or leave it. It’s not speaking about you specifically, it’s results they have found. I also had a c-section with my second child (emergency, pre-eclampsia) and felt the same as you did, like I was delivered by my doctor, rather than gave birth to, my son. However, I found that taking things personally negatively impacted my recovery and working through my feelings about my c-section.

I can see the point the vaginal vs C-section study is making – but nevertheless, a woman who has a c-section will doubtlessly bond very well with her baby also.

The problem with c-sections is that they are mostly done because there are complications – and because of the process, the mother does not get to hold their baby and nurse them straight away – whereas after a vaginal birth, the baby can be placed directly onto moms stomach, and nursing can begin immediately – thus the bonding starts straight away.

I doubt in the long run that there is any difference in the bond that a mother and baby share due to how they were birthed.

I do think though, that doctors do not support natural birth as much as they should though, and a lot of women feel pressured into delivering their baby via c -secion.

The last thing I need to hear is that a vaginal birth can lead to a better bond with my child. I am a mother to one child and I had her by cesearean. I felt like I was less of a mother and that I didnt give birth to her that the doctor did. I already feel bad enough that I couldn’t have a vaginal birth, now you make me feel like I wont have a strong bond with her. thanks