Psychological consequences of intervention in the birth process.

Abstract
At specific time points throughout pregnancy and up to 3 mo. postpartum, 253 women completed measures assessing personality characteristics, psychological functioning and attitudes towards labor, birth and the baby. After the birth of their babies, the women were categorized according to the type of birth experienced: spontaneous vaginal, forceps birth or cesarean birth. There were no significant differences among the 3 birth groups in terms of their demographic status or psychological functioning in the prenatal period. The only measures that significantly differentiated the 3 birth groups were those relating to their birth experience. Contrary to reports in the published literature, type of birth was not a major determinant of either maternal adjustment or psychological functioning in the postpartum period.

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