Method of Delivery and Parent-Newborn Interaction

Abstract

Concern over the increased rate ofcesarean section delivery has led to a number of investigations that have focused on the effects of surgical delivery. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine if method of delivery was related to neonatal behavior, parental behavior, parental perceptions, or mother-newborn interaction. The investigation employed 20 full-term healthy infants in each of the following four groups: Firstborn vaginal delivery, later-born vaginal delivery, firstborn emergency cesarean, and later-born repeat cesarean section. Measures were taken on the second day after delivery and included the Neonatal Perception Inventory (NPI), a mother-infant feeding observation, the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (BNBAS), and the State-Trait Inventory. Multivariate analyses performed on the method of delivery by sex of infant by birth order design indicated no significant differences for infant behavior, parental perceptions of infant behavior, or mother-infant interaction. There was a significant main effect for birth order and State scores, with mothers of firstborn infants exhibiting less optimal transitory anxiety scores. These findings suggest that the current concern over cesarean deliveries and their impact on parents and infants may be partially unfounded.