Study finds familiar faces make childbirth less traumatic for moms

By Stephen Beech

Familiar faces make childbirth less traumatic for moms, according to new research.

The presence of relatives or friends lowers stress levels for new mothers, say American scientists.

Most animals - including other primates - give birth alone, but humans require assistance during childbirth due to the physiological complexities of the process.

The new study found that pregnant women who were unable to have their desired emotional support persons present during childbirth were more likely to have higher levels of perceived childbirth stress than those who had friends or family present.

The findings, published in the journal Evolution, Medicine and Public Health , showed that the higher level of perceived childbirth stress was comparable to the increase in stress a