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Women who deliver vaginally may be more responsive to their newborns in the early postpartum period than those who deliver via cesarean section, new research suggests.1
This has been speculated about for a long time, but new research shows that it is the case. I think it only makes sense. As humans, I think we are automatically more connected with others with whom we have suffered together. But, I think the other point is that this method is more natural (as God intended perhaps). I realize that there are many situations where this is not an option, but I also know that over the years, the decision of vaginal versus cesarean birth has been a matter of convenience. I don’t necessarily mean the woman either. I’ve heard stories about a doctor having to come in on a holiday to deliver a baby, and in order to get it over as soon as possible, opted for cesarean. Or worse, induced the birth and utilized forceps for the most rapid delivery possible. Doctors like their holiday times as much as anyone.
The research also found:
“We found a significant difference in activity in certain cortical and subcortical areas of the brain in this group of mothers who delivered vaginally compared with those who delivered by cesarean section. Broadly speaking, the cortical brain regions are believed to be important for regulating emotions and empathy,” principal investigator James Swain, MD, PhD, FRCPS, told Medscape Psychiatry.
This research is part of a longer term study examining the relationship between bonding at delivery method. The researchers reported that cesarean deliveries have increased from 4.5% in 1965 to 29.1% in 2006. Based on my observations, people who were born via cesarean section are more reactive to sudden changes, scared of surprises, and have more difficulty with life transitions.
What do I mean by that? The ‘Nonverbal Level.’ What I mean is traumatic experiences that occur before the development of language, or around the time when language is just developing. People who experience these early traumas, often times medical experiences, tend to develop a wide range of difficulties. Most notably, difficulty with self-expression.
I’ve talked a little about early traumatic experiences before. In some ways a person’s emotional development becomes “fixed” or “fixated” at the age at which the trauma occurred. In may other ways they may fully develop (intellectually, physically, etc…).
I met a fellow professional at a conference a few years ago who shared that she had developed an intense aversion to all kinds of fruits and vegetables after an extrended hospital stay at the age of 2. There was no conscious memory of this experience. But her mother told her that she loved fruit and vegetables before going into the hospital, and after being in the hospital would never touch them again. Now, when I met her, she was 40 years old! She had never eaten any fruit or vegetables since that time. And could not do so. She would immediately gag.
She told me a little about her early medical experiences that she learned from her parents. I made a slightly unprofessional comment, “I bet you are extremely ‘gaggy.’” In other words, she has a hypersensitive gag reflex. She said, “Yes, I always have been. I can’t eat any fruit or vegetables without gagging. It’s the texture.” Now, this was related to the fact of being in the hospital for many months, and having tubes down her throat at this very early age.
Now, many people who have very early traumas (traumatic births, early medical traumas in the first couple years of life, etc…) have extreme difficulty in expressing themselves. It may be just talking at all that’s a problem. It may be specific to emotional expression. Regardless, there is almost always a problem in this area.
So, if you have a child who has to be in the hospital at a very young age, the best I can tell you is be there for them as much as you possibly can. Provide a great deal of reassurance and physical comfort (hugs, kisses, touch, etc…). Talk to them. Be soothing. You cannot completely erase the traumatic nature of the experience, but you will reduce it draumatically.
From time to time I plan to post summaries of recent interesting news in the fields of psychology and psychiatry. This is the first installment. I also provide my perspective, opinions, and observations.
Neonates in Intensive Care Endure Painful Procedures, Mostly Without Analgesia- A recent study found that infants in neo-natal intensive care experienced an average of 16 painful or stressful procedures per day. And that 79% of these were without analgesia. Very slowly, more practitioners are becoming aware of the long term consequences for traumatic experiences as an infant including the birth process. Unfortunately, the quackery of the ‘re-birthing’ movement has caused many practitioners to develop excessive cynicism to these notions. Even though people have no conscious memory of these experiences, there are unconscious memories that result in a number of problems in later life as a result of early traumatic experiences. I’ll write more on my clinical observations of early traumas in the future.
Childhood Nutrition Linked to Adult Intellectual Function- Okay, you’re a parent. You are not your child’s friend. Many parent’s nowadays are confused about their role. They want to be ‘friends’ with their child. That is not the role of a parent. The role of a parent is to educate a child, love a child, and nurture a child’s soul in the ways of the Lord so that they will be prepared for life’s challenges. So the kid says, “Yuck!!! I don’t want to eat it.” Show and explain that “big people,” adults, love to eat fruits and vegetables because ‘they make you smarter and stronger.’ As a child, I came to identify with my grandfather, who LOVED the fruit and vegetables that were grown in his garden. I think that nutritional changes are a key component of mental health. This must always be addressed in treatment. If you address this early on in a child’s life, you give them intellectual, and maturity advantages throughout their lives. Please do so. Fast food, such as McDonalds, Burger King, etc… are out of the question. But, please, do not take the easiest path with regard to parenting. You may think you are doing your child a favor, but you are not!
Relaxation Training for Anxiety: A Ten-Years Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis - The notion is that you ‘cannot be anxious and relaxed at the same time.’ For many people, relaxation techniques are very effective in helping you cope with anxiety and stress. For others, it is not effective at all. There is some evidence that meditation is more effective than relaxation as this article notes. Relaxation training is very different from activities that you may find relaxing. It is much deeper than that. But for some, relaxing is also seen as a threat. Psychotherapy with a competent psychotherapist can help you uncover why relaxation is so scary to you.. It may be a medical experience, “Just relax, this will be over in a minute.” And the word relax becomes associated with pain. There are many other variations on why people have trouble relaxing. If you have trouble learning relaxation techniques, you may require long-term psychotherapy to help resolve unconscious aspects that lead to your inability to relax.
Early Treatment of Migraine With Combination Therapy Effective, Well Tolerated- Headaches are a complex phenomena. This research shows that medication is very helpful compared to placebo. However, in my practice, it is very important to address the psychological factors of headaches. I remember one fellow who developed intense and severe ‘migraine headaches.’ This was described as a stabbing sensation that started in the back of the head. As a result, he would fall down on to the floor ’sobbing’ as a result. In analysis, it was uncovered that the location of the pain was exactly the same as when his father, ‘beat my head against the wall.’ After his head was beat against the wall, he fell to the floor sobbing. Now, sometimes headaches are a result of constipation or poor nutrition. You need to drink water ONLY, and stay away from soft drinks. It doesn’t matter if they are diet or otherwise. Diet soft drinks are somewhat worse actually. If you need caffeine, get it from coffee or tea. Eat high fiber cereal for breakfast, bananas, and orange juice for breakfast (every day). The article doesn’t say these things obviously, but these are things I have found to be very effective with my patients.
Wine Is Healthy In A New (Or Old) Way – The Last Psychiatrist has an interesting article on how wine consumption effects digestion. I’ve always thought that the combination of food and drink was very important in the health effects of what was being consumed. This article provides more evidence along those lines.
Nearly all psychologists will admit that people have psychological defense mechanisms. However, the concept of repressed memories is much more controversial….probably with good reason. You see, memory is not static…meaning it is not like a movie that is played back. It runs through the filter of the mind, emotions, and life experiences. It is susceptible to suggestion. Such as, “You remember him touching you, don’t you.” Patient responds “maybe….yes I think I do…” And comes to believe that this imagined event really happened.
Now, apart from the fact that memory is subject to suggestion, people REALLY DO have the capacity to repress memories. I can’t tell you the precise circumstances that are needed, it is an interaction of individual personality characteristics and the situation. Many people worry that, “Maybe something happened to me that I don’t remember.” I tell them, “Maybe, but don’t worry about it. If it is important that you remember, you will. If not, then you won’t. Trust your unconscious mind.”
I’ve seen it unfold in my office. Piece, by piece, the memory comes back as the emotion attached with each level of repression is released. Usually this is when there is a general knowledge of a ‘fact’ that something happened, but no memory for any specific details. As the emotion is released at each level, there is a deepening of experience and recall of more details. This unfolds in the safest way as dictated, determined, and seen as needed by the unconscious mind. I don’t press or suggest things to these patients…I’m just there to listen, empathize, and support. It unfolds on its own, and occurs only if needed to help the patient overcome their difficulties.
Now there have been times when repressed memories from the “infantile” stage of development come out in symbolic form in a dream. I remember one patient who dreamed of “squeezing” down a well and was attacked by 3 alligators. I told her, “They used forceps during your delivery at birth.” She had no conscious knowledge, or memory of this, as nobody does. She had never been told anything about this by her mother. However, she checked with her mother, and sure enough, it had occurred.
I don’t worry about, or focus on recovering repressed memories in treatment. I follow the patient’s needs. If it is needed, it will occur…I trust the unconscious mind of the patient. You see, God has created us with incredibly self protective minds…that also have self-corrective properties that can be utilized. I trust that completely.
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