How well mothers initially bond with their newborn child may be influenced by some painkillers taken during labour, new research suggests.
A team of researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm studied the births of a group of babies, using video recordings to capture the whole process. They analysed the way in which babies started bonding with their mums – such as the instinct to reach for the breast and feed – and also measured the women’s hormone levels.
They found that nearly half of the babies born to women who’d used painkillers, given by epidural or injection, did not breastfeed during their first two and a half hours. In contrast, the babies whose mothers didn’t have drugs seemed to bond more quickly and fed about an hour after birth.
The researchers discovered that the painkiller group had lower levels of a hormone called oxytocin – something that controls the supply of milk and uterus contractions – and believe that the drugs may reduce the hormone release and hinder bonding.
Rosie Dodds, from the National Childbirth Trust, believes the study highlights the importance of ensuring women have good support from midwives, are stress-free and in pleasant surroundings. She said, “Women who are informed, relaxed and more in control of their birth tend to rely less on pain relief during labour.”
Medical experts were interested in the findings, but say more research is needed to fully confirm the possible negative effect of painkilling drugs.
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