Am J Hum Biol. 2011 Nov 28. doi: 10.1002/ajhb.21228. [Epub ahead of print]
Hour of birth and birth assistance: From a primate to a medicalized pattern?
Bernis C, Varea C.

Source
Department of Biology, Madrid Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain.
Abstract

OBJECTIVES:
Previous studies generally agree that in Homo sapiens births without
medical intervention occur mostly at night, although with a less
accentuated pattern than in other primate species. The present study has
three main objectives: (a) to establish the hourly pattern of births in a
modern medicalized population, (b) to explore the association between the
hour of birth and maternal and fetal variables and mode of delivery, and
(c) to evaluate the risk for medical intervention at different hours of the
day.

METHODS:
The hourly distribution of 25,779 deliveries at the "La Paz" Madrid
University Maternity Hospital (Spain) has been analyzed. Two different
multivariate analyses have been used to evaluate, respectively, the
relationships between maternal and fetal characteristics and the type of
birth and hour of delivery.

RESULTS:
The increasing of unnecessary hospital interventions seems to have
transformed the nocturnal pattern of birth into a diurnal one and may be
contributing to the rise of preterm and low birth weight deliveries,
reducing their probability of being breastfeed, and eliminating or
transforming emotional and social support. Immigrant women present a higher
frequency of the nocturnal pattern of delivery than their Spanish
counterparts.

CONCLUSIONS:
The predominant nocturnal pattern of birth seems to have disappeared in a
Spanish highly medicalized population. However, the hallmark of primate
nocturnal deliveries is evident when multiple births, malpresentation,
Caesarean sections, and vaginal interventions are excluded. Possible
consequences of diurnal birth include reduced infant-mother bonding, breast
feeding, and later life reductions to health. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2011. ©
2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

-- 
Nikki Lee RN, BSN, Mother of 2, MS, IBCLC, CCE, CIMI, ANLC, CKC
craniosacral therapy practitioner
www.breastfeedingalwaysbest.com

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