Are C-Section babies more chilled/relaxed?

[JC2021]

My sister has just had a c section to the most peaceful/chill little girl.

In contrast, her son who is now nearly 5 was born naturally (quite a difficult labour) episiotomy needed after hours of pushing, he is a firecracker and has a totally different temperament.

I am hearing more and more people say that having a c section baby they have a chill baby!!!! Is there something in this I wonder??

No traumatic pushing and moving through mums body..!

My C- section baby was easier than my older two.

But I also had years of practice and he is now a rowdy toddler.

Don’t think it makes a difference.

No. Moving through mums body is not traumatic for the baby.

@PunishmentSnart rosy toddler, haha thanks - interesting..

@PunishmentSnart typo! I meant 'rowdy' lol

@Bitofachinwag I have heard different and that birth itself is very traumatic for newborns

I had two elective c sections and my first child was definitely not chilled (for at least the first two years) though my second was…!

Nope opposite way around for me. Although there are both a bit mad.

No. Of course not.

My second by cs was/is a lot more easygoing than my first by vb but I don't know if there's any real correlation. I'm due dc3 by c section too so will be interesting to compare! Everyone just keeps telling me number 3 is always the wildcard/trouble maker so I'm expecting the worst

My DTs were born by elcs. I had one chilled baby, and one drama llama. I don’t think if I’d given birth vaginally they’d have been any different, their temperaments inside me matched up with after they’d been born!

What an odd idea. Of course not.

My friend who has a c-section was very upset about it. She attributed an awful lot of things to it (baby’s mood, breastfeeding, sleep, eating, separation anxiety etc) for months, if not over a year to the section. I think people look for root causes of things but honestly I don’t think a c section or vaginal birth can affect the temperament of the baby beyond the first 10 minutes of their life. I had a bright lights, stirrups, stressful delivery and a beautiful water birth dimmed lights peaceful delivery. Babies were similar temperament.

Interesting. Anecdotally this is true for mine.
Perhaps it’s less about the method of birth than the level of ‘trauma’ or not during birth.

@legalseagull

My first was delivered vaginay after a long and traumatic birth. He was tired, I was tired and we struggled with breast feeding, he kept falling asleep. Never quite got it. I mixed fed from the first day and from there on. He is a hyper child, that might just be him.
My second two were sections. They hopped straight on the boobs in recovery and didnt look back. They were both pretty easy as babies. Third is not a chilled kid but was definitely an easier baby.

@ZenNudist. Fair enough.

Well Caesar who was born by Caesarian section and for whom c-section is named was hardly chill and relaxed. After all he conquered Gaul and Britannia, then turned the Republic of Rome into the Roman Empire.

So no, what you’ve heard is likely an old wives tale.

@Missmissmiiiiiiiiisss I think there is something in it! Interesting that you say you agree for yours!

When you have certain kinds of pain relief / sedation it does make the baby sleepier and ‘more chilled out’ until it wears off. I had codeine before my epidural and epiosotomy & and DS was a bit sleepy for a few days. But he has a huge temper and his true personality showed quickly. You haven’t lived until you shit yourself (literally) in fright because your 3 day old is lifting his neck up Chucky style while glaring at you.

@olivehater wow... this is exactly what I'm referring to.. easier babies after c-section.. obviously temperament will show as they grow into toddlers and beyond but the first year or so being easier and less 'fussy' as babies! I think you're the type proof of what I've heard about! Thanks for your input!

@PlanDeRaccordement 😂😂

@Ozanj ok I'm dead 🤣🤣🤣 chucky style!!!

All 3 of mine were born by caesarean section, although dc1 was a very traumatic emergency section a long time after my waters broke and a protracted failed induction, and the other two were planned caesareans in order for me not to die, as I nearly did when I hemorrhaged during and after DC1's birth.

They are completely different from one another. I was utterly and completely terrified before and during dc2's birth but he was by far my most chilled baby and toddler. He appeared to have read the "what to expect" baby books and followed them

DC3 didn't sleep for more than a two hour stretch until he was nearly 3 years old, and learnt to climb everything (book cases, door frames, trees, slides, out of his cot while wearing a baby sleeping bag, anything vertical in any context) pretty much as soon as he learnt to crawl. He's always been incredibly cute though, which is how he survived

Third babies are not more chilled, caesarean section born babies are not more chilled - not because of their birth order or delivery method anyway. Its all fairly random.

I have a baby born by c section and then two VBACS after. I think the children are the way they are because they are who they are rather than the way they were born. All of them slept all night the first night home.

@Bitofachinwag

No. Moving through mums body is not traumatic for the baby.

It was traumatic for my son.

OP my c section baby was much more chilled than my vaginal born child. The difference was staggering.