Interrupted Birth and the Science of Bonding: How a Doula Can Support Connection

photo by Australian Pregnancy & Birth website

Birth is one of life’s most transformative experiences—but sometimes, it doesn’t go as planned. Unplanned and emergency interventions (vacuum extractions, cesarean, or fundal pressure) are strongly correlated with impaired mother-infant bonding, according to a 2024 German study of 1,000 mothers and fathers.

The research shows that negative birth experiences, particularly when mothers felt uninformed or powerless, can impact early emotional connection. This echoes 1956 behavioral studies in goats: if newborns were separated before the mother could lick them, she had no interest to connect. Early natural moments of care are essential.

As the French Obstetrician Michel Odent warns, "We should be wondering about the future of our civilization if the birth process is routinely disturbed in this way." However, as a doula you can make difference and help mothers and families feel empowered so that the bonding can be improved no matter what the circumstances are.

How a doula can help strengthen bonding, even after an interrupted birth:

• Provide continuous support and advocacy, helping mothers feel informed and respected.

• Foster emotional safety and empowerment during labor.

• Encourage early skin-to-skin contact and responsive care after birth.

With a doula present, mothers and families are more likely to feel supported, confident, and emotionally connected, which promotes healthy mother and father-infant bonding—even after unplanned interventions.