Why do moms want THEIR OB to catch the baby so bad? - Page 3

[gcgirl]

I didn't care, actually. All I wanted was someone who would respect my wishes for a natural delivery, and I got that. As it turns out, my OB was laid up with abdominal surgery, so I had a rather nervous intern deliver me at the local teaching hospital. There were, like, 4 docs and 2 nurses in the room at the time, and I really didn't give a fig. The whole hospital could have peeped in; I was in labor land at the time. And a nervous new doctor got some experience attending a natural birth! I've done my part to support the cause.

[cottonwood]

Originally Posted by crsta33

I've heard a theory that women "fall in love" with the person who catches their baby b/c of the outpouring of oxytocin after the birth. It "bonds" you to the ppl close by during/after the birth. I think that's how women can "love" their OB even after a really rough birth, esp if she feels like the OB "saved" her or the baby.

Yes. Although that may not happen if there isn't an outpouring of oxytocin and other bonding hormones -- sometimes the mother's hormonal process (especially in very interventionist births) has been made so dysfunctional that she isn't bonding with anyone at the birth. It can be psychological in nature too, but there's definitely that chemical element. I bonded with my first two midwives, which was harmful to me on several levels, and it's one reason I opted not to have anyone but my husband at my other births.