Psychological Effects of Obstetrical Intervention

Ideally, each birth would require no further intervention than a doctor or midwife catching the baby. But medical interventions often come into play, because of a variety of factors. After the big moment, mothers may be left reeling from an intervention that was frightening, intense or even unnecessary.

The Risks

• When surgical intervention occurs, particularly in a first childbirth, this increases the risk of the mother experiencing depression post-traumatic distress and grief. Significant negative psychological effects are associated with the mode of delivery. In studies, women who had vaginal deliveries were less like to get depressed and they also experienced an increase in self-esteem, while those women who had C-sections experienced higher rates of depression and low self-esteem.

Birth Trauma

• Dr. William R. Emerson, who has done extensive research on birth trauma, believes that obstetrical intervention is the major source of birth trauma. Intervention includes vacuum extraction, C-section, use of forceps, induction, scalp monitors, inducing labor and anesthesia. He believes that these types of intervention are often used when they aren't needed.

  One of Dr. Emerson's main areas of interest is the use of anesthesia and analgesia during labor and the effect this has on the baby. These medicines are used to reduce the pain that the laboring woman is experiencing, but the drawbacks need to be considered. Dr. Emerson said that some babies that are born under (their mother's) anesthesia can have a hard time bonding, and he also believes that these babies may experience substance abuse later in life.

Induction and Drugs

• When a mother's labor is induced, Dr. Emerson points out that the infant may experience the sensation of being controlled and over-powered, which may interfere with bonding. He states that drugs are used at times so that the time of the birth is scheduled to mesh with the doc's schedule and the infant is not born on his own time schedule.

Instruments

• Using instruments, such as forceps or vacuum suction, to deliver a baby may be traumatic for the baby and the mother, notes Dr. Emerson. He also thinks that C-sections can result in tactile defensiveness in childhood, because of the hurried way the baby was born, and may also result in a baby with digestive problems.

Amniotomy

• Another obstetrical intervention is cutting the cord too early and separation of the mother and her child too soon after birth. These actions are sometimes called amniotomies.

  A newborn infant should, ideally, be placed on his mother's chest right after birth or as soon as is conceivably possible. Sometimes this doesn't occur because a sick baby must be hurriedly whisked away to the neonatal intensive care unit. However, when the baby is healthy, this should be done to start the bonding process. Skin to skin contact or kangaroo mother care, is extremely beneficial to the child and his mother. The sooner it is done, the better.

  According to an article in Time Magazine, citing a study done by pediatricians at the University of California, those babies whose umbilical cords were left un-clamped for a longer period of time were in better condition that those whose cords were clamped before they took their second breath or soon after the second breath was taken. Delaying cutting of the umbilical cord allows a gradual rather than abrupt change from fetal circulation to regular circulation and doesn't put undue stress on the baby's body and the blood vessels in the baby's lungs. It is better to use a "carefree" approach to disconnecting the infant from his mother rather than a hurried and abrupt approach.

C-Sections

• Psychosomaticmedicine.org reports that there have been numerous studies on the connection between C-sections and postpartum depression (PPD.) If a woman already has a history of depression, then she may be likely to experience PPD after a C-section. The context in which the C-section occurs may also raise the risk of PPD. The anesthesia that is used when a woman has a C-section and the fact that she may not have her loved ones in the room with her during the delivery can have an impact on the woman's emotional status. If the C-section is an emergency rather than planned this may be very stressful on the woman. Loss of control can be upsetting, and feeling poorly after the surgery impedes a woman ability to hold and bond with her child.