Natural Birth and the Family

The Psychological Effect of Natural Childbirth

The Effect on the Mother

Years after having a child, women remember if they felt in control or out of control when giving birth; if they were treated respectfully and felt validated; if they felt ignored, put down, or inadequate; or if they felt deprived of choices. They remember each negative or positive word spoken to them. A negative experience can cause wounds that sometimes never heal.

Many women and most young girls think of birth as an illness that is bloody, sickening, and painful. Most women do not learn of the wonder and mystery and sweaty, intense power of birth, they don’t learn of the physical, emotional, and spiritual connection that is possible when women let go of their fear-based desire to disassociate from their bodies. Natural birth as described is very beneficial to the mother. As a woman this experience has the power to leave her feeling empowered by her own strength with a heightened sense of self worth. As a mother this experience has the power to lend confidence in her ability to care for and bond to her child.

It is important to note that women who do not or can not labor naturally will not love their babies less, any good loving mother can and will bond to her infant, but there is a measured advantage to birth naturally.

“My birth had been the most self-empowering experience of my life. I loved my labor, believe me, I loved it. It was the hardest work I have ever done, but the greatest satisfaction came out of that work. It was everything I had hoped for and more, so much more. I hope that every woman will dig deep down into her body and pull from it the power to birth her child by the sweat of their own brow, that she will not insist upon the mind-body separation of drugs and cheat herself out of this self discovery called birth.” ~ Natural Birth Mom

The Effect on the Father

Father’s who witness the power of birth as it is displayed in its natural form often feel a heightened sense of pride, and honor for the mother of their children. These natural birth fathers sense the wonder and power of the mother of their child as she labors to bring their baby into their waiting arms, by being apart of this significant life experience the father becomes deeply bonded to his wife and baby.

This feeling of pride and gratitude for the mother follows the father into his role husband, in the words of a natural birth mom, “for the first few weeks after the baby was born my husband looked at me different than before, he was almost giddy with excitement as he recounted to friends and relatives our family birth experience. I felt so loved and appreciated as he would boast about how awesome I was through it all.”

Studies have shown that men who participate in the pregnancy and birth of their children feel greater ties of responsibility for the welfare of their infant. They sense the helplessness of the baby, and view their primary responsibility as protector, and provider for their child.

Effect on the Baby

Babies seem to come prepared to meet their parents. Their mothers are extremely familiar to the infant at the moment of birth, her smell, her touch, her voice, are all familiar to an infant of only a few second old. Most babies also recognize the voice of their father and are curious to look at and interact with both of their parents.

Natural birth helps to facilitate this important bonding time because it usually results in the baby and mother having more energy to interact with one another. Natural birth moms generally have an endorphin high after giving birth that last for several hours, the same period of time that un-medicated infants are in their awake and alert state. This time of heightened senses and excitement is enhanced by the experience and elation of having passed through labor and birth naturally.

Birth and Family Bonding

It is important to state that what takes place during and shortly after the birth of a child may be the starting point for building the foundations of secure attachment and independence between children and their parents, but it is not the only component of bonding. The thrill of starting off successfully certainly can enhance one’s expectations about being a parent. But it is not the only source of energy that creates attachment.

Even parents who have lacked early contact with their infants after birth generally become bonded to their babies. Human beings are highly adaptable, and there are many routes to attachment. Some see the experience of birth as the most influential moment of life for the baby and the mother, and often for the father. Although birth is highly significant, it is not an isolated experience, a number of factors, converge to shape these few hours and determine their influence on the development of the family.