Impact on bonding

[Can I?]

Does anyone know if there have been any studies done on the impact of circumcision (particularly if done early) on mother baby bonding and relationship? It would be fascinating to know if circumcising changed a babe's ability to form a strong bond with its mother.

[MotherNurture]

I did a quick googling of "circumcision bonding". Here are a few excerpts...


Circumcision and Mother-Infant Bonding

Generally, the post circumcision infant, who is in pain, traumatized, and exhausted post-circumcision infant, may be less available for mother-child interaction for a period of several days to a week. The following indexed articles discuss the effect of the stress and trauma of circumcision on the infant and on mother-infant bonding:


Emde RN, Harmon RJ et al. Stress and neonatal sleep. Psychosomatic Medicine, Vol 33, No. 6 (November-December 1971), Pages 491-497.
Anders TF, Chalemian RJ. The effects of circumcision on sleep-wake states in human neonates. Psychosomatic Medicine, Vol. 36, No. 2 (March-April 1974), 174-179.
Richards MPM, Bernal JF, Brackbill Y (1976). Early behavioral differences: gender or circumcision? Developmental Psychobiology 9: 89-95.
Marshall RE, Stratton WC, Moore JA, Boxerman SB. Circumcision I: effects upon newborn behavior. Infant Behav Dev 1980;3:1-14.
Marshall RE, Porter FL, Rogers A, et al. Circumcision II: effects upon mother-infant interaction. Early Human Development 1982;7:367-74.
Anand KJS, Hickey PR. Pain and its Effects on the Human Neonate and Fetus. New Engl J of Med 1987;317:1321-1329.
Laibow R. Circumcision: Relationship Attachment Impairment. Second Int'l Symp. on Circumcision., San Francisco April 1991:14
Taddio A, Koren G. et al. Effect of Neonatal Circumcision on Pain Responses at Vaccination in Boys. Lancet, Feb. 1995;345:291-292.
Taddio A, Koren G. et al. Effect of neonatal circumcision on pain response during subsequent routine vaccination. Lancet, Vol. 349: 599-603 (March 1, 1997).
LeBoyer, Frederic. Birth Without Violence: The Book That Revolutionized the Way We Bring Our Children Into the World. Inner Traditions International, Ltd. (ISBN 089281540). 1995 Reprint of 1975 Classic.
Birth Scene http://www.birthpsychology.com/
Pyterek AV. Circumcision: The Roof of Misogyny.
Mary Kroeger with Linda J. Smith. Circumcision. In: Impact of Birthing Practices on Breastfeeding: Protecting the Mother and Baby Continuum. Sudbury, Massachusetts: Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2003: pp. 197-8. (ISBN 0-7637-2481-5)


[also includes direct links to the articles] http://www.cirp.org/library/birth/


Painkillers disrupt infant bonding

LONDON, March 28, 2001(Reuters)
- Painkillers given to women during childbirth could be preventing mothers from bonding with their babies, New Scientist magazine said on Wednesday.

Scientists at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden videotaped 28 newborns to see how they responded to their mothers, some of whom had pain relief.

"We wanted to see how interventions like analgesia affect a newborn's behaviour," said Anna-Berit Ransjo-Arvidson who conducted the study.

All of the infants were cleaned and placed on their mother's breast. The infants not exposed to the drugs behaved normally and reached for their mother and began to feed about an hour after birth.

But the babies of mothers who had taken painkillers did not interact as much with their mother and took longer to feed.

Levels of the hormone oxytocin, which controls lactation and the contraction of the uterus and is thought to increase bonding, rose in women without painkillers when their babies fed.

The Swedish scientists suspect that because babies exposed to painkillers interact less with the mother there is less oxytocin released and the two do not bond as well.

"We need to do more studies, especially as there is a very high increase in (the use of) epidural and other pain relievers," said Ransjo-Arvidson.

"There's a lot of money in epidurals," she added.

http://www.circumstitions.com/Nursing.html


Maternal Bonding / Breastfeeding


Circumcision affects mother-infant interaction.(29)
When an infant is subjected to intolerable, overwhelming pain, it conceptualizes mother as participatory and responsible regardless of mother’s intent. Consequences for impaired bonding are significant.(30)
These are the first data suggesting a protective effect of breastfeeding against UTI.(31)
Breasts also produce large quantities of a hormone (GnRH) that may aid in development of a newborn’s brain.(32)
Infants feed less frequently after circumcision; observed deterioration may contribute to breast- feeding failure.(33)
A stressful, painful event such as circumcision appears to affect the feeding patterns.(34)


http://www.eskimo.com/~gburlin/mgm/facts.html


Circumcision has other harmful effects. Anand and Hickey write that


the persistence of specific behavioral changes after circumcision in neonates implies the presence of memory. In the short term, these behavioral changes may disrupt the adaptation of newborn infants to their postnatal environment, the development of parent-infant bonding, and feeding schedules.18

Psychiatrist Rima Laibow agrees that circumcision significantly impairs mother-infant bonding.19 Other researchers conclude that circumcision has "behavioral and psychological consequences."20 The American Academy of Pediatrics Task Force on Circumcision notes increased irritability, varying sleep patterns, and changes in infant-maternal interaction after circumcision.21 Canadian investigators report that during vaccinations at age four to six months, circumcised boys had increased behavioral pain response and cried for significantly longer periods than did uncircumcised boys, a possible indication of post-traumatic stress disorder.22 Other long-term effects have not been studied.

http://www.jewishcircumcision.org/spectator.htm


Bonding by Maintaining Genital Integrity

Circumcision: Despite claims that babies feel no pain, studies prove that babies feel pain more sharply than adults. Pain is serious. It is not something to be dismissed, ignored, or laughed at. It does not ‘toughen' little boys. Circumcised babies suffer from an abnormally lowered pain threshold, consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder.

In the course of every circumcision babies scream, tremble, and/or cry. Many hold their breath, defecate, or vomit. Some fall into a semi-comatose state. While this enables a baby to distance himself from his agony, it has dangerous consequences for the brain. Some infants cry for hours afterwards. Some withdraw, becoming less responsive and more irritable, others cry for extended periods and seem inconsolable.

There are no valid medical reasons for performing circumcisions. Complications range from lacerations, hemorrhage, infections, penile amputation, and urethral damage to deformed penises. There is no accurate data on the rate of complications and hospitals are not obligated to report circumcision accidents.

The foreskin is not ‘dirty'. Its immunological functions actually protect the body from harm. Circumcision does not decrease urinary tract infections and does not prevent premature ejaculation. Despite badly reported research, the intact penis in not more likely to spread sexually transmitted diseases like AIDS.

Because the foreskin is one of the most sensitive parts of the body, a circumcised male, and his partner, can never reach their full birth potential of genital pleasure.

http://www.kindredmedia.com.au/library_page1/bonding_and_the_origins_of_love/59/1

Jen

[OscarTheGrouch]

My DH bonded with his Mother with no problems at all, in fact he's still a Mummies boy.:rolleyes: I think the impact on bonding is another load of crock funded by the anti-circ brigade, give us break!!!:thumbsdown:

[poshBecks]

Personal opinion...

I dont think it will affect the bonding. If that stopped bonding, then what about the poor little bubbas who need operations soon after birth?

My DH was circed... he bonded fine with his mum.

I agree with L&J's mum

[Pippi Longstocking]

I think the impact on bonding is another load of crock funded by the anti-circ brigade, give us break!!!:thumbsdown:

What exactly would be the agenda of said "anti-circ brigade"?


I think it is quite plausible that circumcision would interfere with the bonding process.

[WizzFizz]

I think the impact on bonding is another load of crock funded by the anti-circ brigade, give us break!!!:thumbsdown:

I agree. My son bonded with us as normal. And now at 8 months he's such a beautiful loving cuddly baby. I bonded more with my son than with my daughter, and she had no circumcision!!

[rennie]

My son is circed and he is most definatly a mummys boy:kiss:. No problems with bonding here.

[Mister Noodle]

The plural of 'anecdote' is not 'data'...

[Pippi Longstocking]

The plural of 'anecdote' is not 'data'...

Can I steal that and use it as my own?

[BabyLs]

Yeah I agree, My DH is circo'd and he is most definatley a mummy's boy and is just as close to his mum as his sisters are.......so didn't do anything to hinder their bonding..

[WizzFizz]

I think this thread is aimed at parents who have had their sons circumsised and whether it has impacted on their bonding.

If you dont have your son circumsised you wouldn't know this whould you? I am interested in seeing the replies of people who have their son's circ'd, so please, if you dont have anything nice to say, stay away! :)

[Can I?]

Thanks Jen.....exactly what I wanted to know. :yes:

I know that me being administered pethidine during the birth of my first son definately impacted on our ability to bond immediately after the birth. I felt sick, and he was very unresponsive. I have noticed a huge difference in my subsequent births. I still desperately love my first son, and I don't think our relationship has been affected long term, but I know that that special bond was more difficult to find.

I was thinking more about the way it used to be done with babies being circumcised in the first couple of days of life at the hospital - rather than now when circumcision is mostly conducted after that initial period of bonding.

There's no need for anyone to speculate about my motives in starting the thread - I just wanted some information about what studies have been conducted. As a more AP parent myself I am interested in the bonding side of things.

Thanks again Jen.

[Pippi Longstocking]

I think this thread is aimed at parents who have had their sons circumsised and whether it has impacted on their bonding.

If you dont have your son circumsised you wouldn't know this whould you? I am interested in seeing the replies of people who have their son's circ'd, so please, if you dont have anything nice to say, stay away! :)

Actually, I think the OP was asking about studies, not personal anecdotes.


Does anyone know if there have been any studies done on the impact of circumcision (particularly if done early) on mother baby bonding and relationship? It would be fascinating to know if circumcising changed a babe's ability to form a strong bond with its mother.


Whilst I acknowledge I posted no links or references to studies myself :o , I don't believe the thread was intended only for those that have circed their children to respond to. Correct me if I am wrong, Can I? :)

[Can I?]

Ya know I love my scientific evidence Guv

[Mister Noodle]

Can I steal that and use it as my own?

Heh. It's very, very old - I think copyright has expired on it :p

[Pippi Longstocking]

The plural of 'anecdote' is not 'data' ©2007 by Guv'nor™...


Heh, yoink!

[WeloveHarriet]

Well DS was circumcised 3wks ago and is still a mummy's boy - in fact so much can't leave him with anyone (including poor DH!!). DH was done and is so close to his mother still it can sometimes drive me insane (but after 18yrs I have learnt to cope).

My nephew was also done 9mths ago and will only go to sleep with his mother holding his hand.

So in my opinion - nope don't believe a word of it.

[Little Chookie]

http://www.cirp.org/library/pain/gunnar/

The above study has a comparison of cortisol levels pre/ post Circ. Its an old study but has been reviewed recently (2006)

Cortisol being the stress hormone.

http://virgil.azwestern.edu/~dag/lol/CaregiverBond.html

These experiments were testing bonding on children of various ages. The first one mentions cortisol levels and bonding.

I found the jump in cortisol quite alarming for babies to have to endure (even though interaction with a responsive mother helped reduce the levels), when you think they are so distressed for something that's not essential.

[hayleylea]

Both my brothers are Mummys boys and they are circ'd - didnt affect them at all!! I find it quite absurd to think that it would...but each to their own.

[Ange&Seth]

I think it is quite plausible that circumcision would interfere with the bonding process.

What about other operations then? If you believe that circ's interefere with the bonding process, then what about other operations?

My brother is circ'd and not very close to my mother, though that is solely based on geographical factors which came into play about 14 years ago. Before that he was certainly a mummy's boy, so no I don't think it affected their bonding at all. He was done before they left hospital too.

My son was done when he was 5wks old, and I can't even leave him with DP somedays, he is such a mummy's boy.

While I don't have any links to case studies, I do have my own experience. So no, I don't think it really affects the bonding process. Each to their own.

[pookiesossige]

http://www.cirp.org/library/pain/gunnar/

The above study has a comparison of cortisol levels pre/ post Circ. Its an old study but has been reviewed recently (2006)

Cortisol being the stress hormone.

http://virgil.azwestern.edu/~dag/lol/CaregiverBond.html

These experiments were testing bonding on children of various ages. The first one mentions cortisol levels and bonding.

I found the jump in cortisol quite alarming for babies to have to endure (even though interaction with a responsive mother helped reduce the levels), when you think they are so distressed for something that's not essential.

Thanks for that, that's really interesting. The study of Cortisol levels is, as far as I know, a really valid way of tracking levels of stress and trauma in infants and it's not new either. I find it reasonable to say that this could have an impact on many parts of a baby's life, not just with the mother/baby bonding thinggo.

Jen, another awesome post, just presenting great, up-to-date info as requested by the OP. Can't go wrong with that.:thumbsup:

[MotherNurture]

RE: What about other surgeries?

I absolutely think pain/trauma early in life, including circumcision and other surgeries may have a significant impact on bonding; we already know that circumcision pain has long-lasting effects. Just because they don't yet have the ability to form conscious memories doesn't mean their bodies and nervous systems don't, on some basic, primal level remember. Think about all the time we spend snuggling, kissing, and nurturing our babies...will they remember how many times we said, "I love you."? Not likely...but that doesn't mean those early experiences don't have a strong impact on their developing brains and the beliefs they're already developing about trust and the world around them.

The point isn't that circumcision is the only potential detriment, but that we should treat our babies like *people* and do everything in our power to avoid or minimize the pain they endure.

Jen

[Can I?]

What about other surgeries?

I would be assuming that other surgeries that were done on a newborn were completed purely as life-saving measures. The impact of these surgeries on bonding has to come second to the little ones life.

That being said I'm sure that there is an impact on bonding when a bub is in special care, intensive care and if it is removed from its mother in any other way.

[Mamalicious]

My DH bonded with his Mother with no problems at all, in fact he's still a Mummies boy.:rolleyes: I think the impact on bonding is another load of crock funded by the anti-circ brigade, give us break!!!:thumbsdown:

I AGREE!!!!!!!!!!

i wish people wouldnt get so uppity over it, its nobodies business but your own, and flashing around genital modification websites isnt going to put the foreskin back on is it

my boy IS a mama's boy and so is my dh, nobody harps on about immunisation needles causing bonding issues

touchy topic at my house as you can see, dh doesnt even bring it up cos i just snap :mad:

[xkwzit]

I have not interpreted anyones's post here as being "uppity" about it (though if you think some are OTT, report them using the red triangle button).

The hub itself is supportive of all parents and we think that our users can provide a wealth of information about a number of topics, circumcision being one of them. We encourage all to share their knowledge and experiences. We know that we are all never going to agree, but that does not mean that we can't discuss.

You can agree or disagree with the studies that have been presented, but the information is there to address the OP which was:

Does anyone know if there have been any studies done on the impact of circumcision (particularly if done early) on mother baby bonding and relationship? It would be fascinating to know if circumcising changed a babe's ability to form a strong bond with its mother.

Please keep to the topic about a baby's ability to bond post-circ. This is not a debate thread, but feel free to start one if you like.

Cheers

[Mamalicious]

sorry :o

i get really upset over it, i wish my son had never been done but it wasn't something i had any control over, it was a decision made by my husband before he even met me... i feel guilty and when i read " does it affect bonding" i went "omg please no, it doesnt does it, have i damaged him, why did i let it happen, omg bad mama"
i worry that he will feel a resentment towards me, but not know why, that he will just have a feeling that i wont protect him from pain.

i dont usually come in here cos i get so upset, might keep it that way!!!

[Milliner]

All I know is that DP and my father are done. They don't have a very close bond with their mothers, but maybe that's because both women are very cold hearted people.

[secondtimearound2]

Does anyone know if there have been any studies done on the impact of circumcision (particularly if done early) on mother baby bonding and relationship? It would be fascinating to know if circumcising changed a babe's ability to form a strong bond with its mother.

Here is some info for you http://www.kindredmedia.com.au/library_page1/bonding_and_the_origins_of_love/59/1
I have a beautiful bond with my little boy!! He was circumcised at 5 days old. He was born into this world with no drugs (I was blessed to have a non complicated labour & birth at a birth centre) and he has been B/F and still is. He had the ring thing and we were lucky there were no complications there either. We did it for are own reasons (background ect ect) and are very happy he is now done.