Effects of Meds during birth

My friend is pregnant and now has expressed the fact that she thinks she may want a natural birth.

She said that she was talking to a woman today and the woman was telling her how if you receive meds during the birth of your child, it's harder to bond with your child. Apparently, your body releases bonding hormones during birth and these hormones are not released if you receive meds...

I have never heard such a thing, but I am not a mother yet either.

Anybody heard of this?

Do you think it has any validity?

I'm not looking for any confrontations, just opinions. Thanks in advance!!!

Re: Effects of Meds during birth

I had ONE contraction after being induced and if it wasnt for DD's heartrate dropping, leading to my C-sec. I woudve asked for meds ASAP

I bonded with my DD just fine after my epidural/surgery when I breastfed her

Re: Effects of Meds during birth

I had meds during labor. Pitocin, Epi etc. and I bonded just fine with DD

Re: Effects of Meds during birth

You know, I didn't BF and I was heavily medicated during my vag. birth and I bonded w/ DS immediately as soon as I looked into his eyes. I don't see how the bond could possibly be any deeper regardless of how different it was.

Re: Effects of Meds during birth

I had 2 c-sections and had no issues bonding with either of my children.

Re: Effects of Meds during birth

I have heard things similar to this before, but mainly because they say the baby can be drowsy from the effects of the meds, etc. That being said, I got an epidural and bonded with my son the instant he was placed in my arms. I breastfed him within an hour or so of birth and our bond was so strong.

Re: Effects of Meds during birth

imo, 9m of being part of you, the bond is set, it can't be erasaed in one day of being medicated

There are much better and more logical reasons to avoid meds, like risk of complications, etc

I was induced and had epi, no issues bonding, he actually wouldn't let go of my boob the first month.

Re: Effects of Meds during birth

i have 3 kids, one vag delivery with meds and on c/s and all my kids were immediately taken away from me and to the NICU and I had no issues bonding with them

Re: Effects of Meds during birth

Re: Effects of Meds during birth

Not intended towards the OP, but the concept irritates me. I have never heard of such a thing, nor do I think that injecting something into the spine to make you numb from the waste down has anything to do with hormones since hormones are produced primarily in the BRAIN. I'm sorry but people will bond or not bond with their baby regardless of meds. Your body knows it's in labor, just because you can't feel contractions, does not mean anything. Most peoples epidural starts to hamper off during actual birth anyway. The minute I saw DS I had so many endorphins running through me because he was the most precious thing I laid eyes on. Him spending those first minutes skin-to-skin gazing at each other had more to do with our bonding process! I doubt feeling myself tearing would have increased our bonding experience.

Not trying to offend anyone pro-natural birth, but I think that's a little extreme. In the days when they use to knock the mom out, then I could see it (cause the mom was unconscious)...possibly. However, when you are awake during the whole thing and that precious bitty baby is on your belly, I don't think so.

Re: Effects of Meds during birth

If you think about meds and how many women get them, that would be equivilant to this woman saying that 80% or more of us can't bond with our child.. I find that funny.. I'd tell your friend not to listen to that nonsense... I had planned on natural and ds just didn't want to come out so i've had cervadil, pitocin, demeral and an epidural and NOONE is coming closer to the bond that I have with my son..

Re: Effects of Meds during birth

Re: Effects of Meds during birth

I had an epi, pitocin and stadol with my first delivery. I had NO drugs at all with my 2nd.

There was no difference in how I bonded with them.

Re: Effects of Meds during birth

Thank you so much to everyone!!!! This is her first child (lost her last pregnancy) so I think she is taking in everything that is being said. I will pass this all on to her!!

Thank you so much and personally, I didn't believe it when I heard it from her (my mother had meds when I was born and we definitely bonded!) but I just was curious if anyone else had heard of this or what their opinions were!

You ladies are the best!!!

Re: Effects of Meds during birth

I also wanted a drug free delivery but ended up being induced, getting pitocin, and 2 epidurals (the first didn't take). The moment DS was put into my arms after I delivered him, I was

Re: Effects of Meds during birth

This concept is explored in the documentary "The Business of Being Born."

However, I had an epidural, pitocin. . . . then immediately after labor had an hour long surgery to remove the placenta where they had to keep pumping me full of pain meds on top of the epidural because I could feel everything. . . . and then I was in recovery for over five hours before I got to see my baby girl. . . and we bonded instantly.

Re: Effects of Meds during birth

My goodness, I think that if I didn't have meds I would have passed out from the pain and missed the birth of DD
I pushed for 3hours and when she came out I was so happy to be pain free I definetely bonded with her right away!

Re: Effects of Meds during birth

You'll hear lots of varying opinions. I'll my opinion in a vague response. It's impossible to say that drugs will not have an effect on the mother or the child. You're introducing an outside chemical, how can you expect it not to. I am just not sure how you can say it directly affects bonding.