In Western societies, the incidence of cesarean births increased during the last decades of the 20th century. Cesarean births for first-time mothers in Sweden increased from 6.4% to 18.8% from1974 to 2010. A cesarean birth is a major surgical procedure with increased risk of morbidity for the mother and might have a negative psychological impact on both the mother and her family. After a cesarean birth, the mother may initially spend less time with her baby, and this may have a negative effect on the contact between them. Furthermore, pain and pain medication could make it difficult for the mother to interact with and breastfeed her baby. A less than optimal hormonal adaptation to breastfeeding has been observed in mothers who have had a cesarean birth. The human baby is born with the ability to interact with its mother and a need to receive her response. This interaction is necessary for the baby to form an attachment and for its emotional and biological development it is important that the mother is able to interact sensitively and adjust to the child. Having a cesarean birth might lead to maternal difficulties in meeting the needs of the baby after birth. Since the mother is extra-sensitive to the needs of her newborn baby after birth a less optimal interaction may affect the establishment of the motherâs relationship with her baby. To strengthen first time motherâs process of becoming a mother as well as her relations ship with her baby, both professional and social support is needed.
Last date updated on June, 2023