Does Labor and Birth Contribute to Maternal Instinct?

I don't really agree with this. All three of my children were born by c-section and I have a very strong maternal instinct. My husband also has custody of his oldest daughter which I raise and have a maternal instinct with her. I think that females just naturally possess that instinct. I remember my family always calling me a lil mother hen when I was younger because I was always trying taking care of everyone else. I think the maternal instinct is present in all females from birth. This is why little girls play with baby dolls.

i think it must interfere with something the pain of labour is there for a reason , i feel it is to create the bond

I don't think labor has anything to do with maternal instinct. I have had 4 children all by c-section and I have never gone into labor. My maternal instinct is still there. It was there before I even had kids. I remember being the "mother" to the little kids on my street. I watched them all without being asked because I felt responsible for them. I wanted to keep them all safe. I was only 12 or 13 and would sit on my porch watching the little 4 year old next door to make sure he was safe. I think most women are born with this instinct to care for other people and animals. Many men also have that same instinct, yet, I feel many don't always act on it because they are taught that is a woman's job. I also know women that just have no maternal instinct at all or if they do they are just too selfish to act on it. They may know that this or that needs to be done to care for their children but they just choose not to do it.

I have had 3 c-sections. I do not think you have to have labor or a vagial delivery to have a maternal instinct. I did go into labor with my second child. I don't feel it made a difference. I bonded with all 3 of my girls before birth. I bonded with the last baby the most before birth. I think that was simply because I was older. I am as fierce a mama bear as they come.

Both my kids were born by csection and I still went through pain having both of them. I have a good bond with both my kids! I love them more then anything. Bonding can be many different things. I have good maternal instincts with both of my kids. I believe its natural for all women to feel maternal inctincts. We built that special bond during the nine months before birth. I had maternal instincts before my first was even born. I had maternal instincts while they were growing inside me. And I did go through labor with my daughter, but I had to have an emergancy csection closer to the end because I went into shock and her heartbeat dropped. But I still went through labor.

It does not matter what way you deliver a baby into the world.. your a Mother & your instinct is there no matter what. No matter what, that baby is yours & your going to protect it because it's our innate ability to know what to do.

i've heard some people say that women who gave birth the natural way are more fulfilled than those who underwent csection. i beg to disagree, though, having been born through csection, because my mom is the most fulfilled person i've seen in my whole life. i think maternal instincts are inherent in every woman.

I have 2 children. My first born was delivered naturally and my second was born by c-section. I don't feel there is a difference in my maternal instincts. If I hear a child crying I fear for both children. I do believe it is natural for all women to feel maternal instincts no matter the method of delivery. It begins in the womb.

I went through labor for my first born and had a c-section for my second. I don't think I feel any different about my kids. I was the first to see my second child soon after he was taken out and I held him too. I feel maternal instinct is something that we have within us. I've seen women who've never had children who are really protective about children in their care. Maybe some women have it and some women don't. There are other women at the other end of the spectrum who dump new borns and carry on with their lives with no regrets!

I think it may contribute but there are women who have maternal instincts that never gave birth. My mom had a natural birth with me and a c-section with my brother. I can say she still doesn't have the maternal instinct. I really can't say on that one.

I agree that women have a natural instinct when it comes to their children, whether they are born by ceasarian with labour or a natural birth. All my children (3) were born through ceasarian. I had a 12 hour labour with the middle child and then had to have a caesarian. I feel the same pangs in the pit of my stomache when they are hurt and an overwhelming joy when they do something good or kind for someone. I think the skills to mothering are sometimes learnt rather than inherant but the love is full on from the start whether it is birth from ceasarian or naturally.

I dont think all this can happen without the mentiaoned factors All these are related and are aprocess, one aftre another