New research suggests birth method can affect children’s temperament later in life
Posted: 3 November 2010
by Caroline Hamman
Children born by caesarean section are likely to be calmer, a Chinese study has found. The research, published today, suggests children are likely to have fewer problems in later life, whereas those born with the help of forceps are 40% more likely to suffer from anxiety, aggression or attention disorders.
ZEST SAYS: Don’t be put off if you were planning a natural birth. Although 4,000 people were included in the study, the methods they used were highly subjective; asking parents to describe their children’s behaviour, and then matching that to their birth method. Previous studies have shown that increased levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) during birth can impact on a child’s brain development, and heighten their levels of the hormone for up to eight weeks, but this study didn’t measure cortisol levels, and instead relied solely on parental opinions, so the link between behaviour and delivery method remains unproven.
