There are reasons that a mother and baby are to experience what they do in "normal" non-stressed birth (not to say pain free).

I refer back to the chemical symphony of birth. Though the exact mechanisms of labor initiation are not well understood, at the right moment it is believed the babe's body signals to the mother that s/he is ready for the world. The hormones released by the baby trigger the mother to increase oxytocin output from the pituitary gland (this is found at the front of the brain). She may have been feeling increases in this hormone already evidenced by and increase in Braxton Hicks contractions. But now they are slowly increasing and making the uterus contract in a way that will result in dilation of the cervix.

These contractions get stronger and stronger until a mother goes through all the stages of labor. With the increase in (for lack of a better word) *pain* during labor you have an increase in endorphins (natural pain killers which help mother accept the sensation). Towards the end of labor (transition and pushing) there is an adrenaline release in the mothers body. Of note is that the baby receives both of these hormones through the placenta.

The reasons for these hormones: 

ADRENALINE/EPINEPHRINE (they are the same thing) (catecholamine): comes from the adrenal glands located on the top of the kidneys. When released during early labor will cause stalls in cervical dilation (failure to progress). It does not take much to trigger a release (just going to hospital and meeting a bunch of strangers can cause this and is one of the reasons most labors are augmented). When there is such a release, labor continues, but is much harder due to the physiological effects of what happens during the fight or flight response in the laboring mother. When released at the end of labor the adrenaline helps to make the mother alert to her surroundings immediately (checking for danger!!), this is also true of the newborn (which is why non-medicated babies are SO alert). The newborn is alert so he can focus on his mom and figure out who the heck she is before s/he has their first sleep after all that work (can you say....IMPRINTING!!). As well a release of this hormone can cause an effect known as the *fetal-ejection-reflex* (mother will all of a sudden feel like pushing), I call it the *OH-MY-GOD-HERE-COMES-THE-BABY* REFLEX. <grin> As well the rush of adrenaline at the final stages of birth gives the babe's heart a bit of a kick start to keep beating rapidly during babe's transition to the outside world.

ENDORPHINES: The reason for this hormone is that it helps the mother accept the task of labor as it advances. Not to say she will have no pain because of it, just able to cope more. This hormone also increases as labor nears, it is meant to relax the mother and become accepting of the task to come. Endorphines increase as labor progresses. So when the baby is born the mother is on a *natural high* when the baby comes out and during the next day or two. This natural high for the mother is part of the Mothering mechanism. The birth and baby have aused her to feel GREAT!!!! And because it was the baby that makes her feel so great she is accepting of all the discomfort labor may afforded her. The baby as well is flooded with these natural opiates, this helps the baby to cope with being squeezed out the birth canal.

OXYTOCIN: the feel good hormone released during uterine contraction (in love making and labor). Natural (endogenous)oxytocin helps the mother cope with contractions as well as they get stronger and stronger. Artificial (exogenous) form of this hormone (pitocin/syntocinon) does not cross the blood/brain barrier and have the coping effects on the brain (this is what makes an induced labor harder).

In the cesarean birth, especially one that is booked and no labor experienced, these aspects of labor are not experienced by either mom or babe. As well the babe is more at risk for lung difficulties that would land him away from mom and in the NICU. Which I think has more impact on baby than labor. Now, if the mom does not think this is of any matter.....

In the epiduralized labor the effects of the endorphines is halted once the epidural is in place so the mother does not physiologically experience the high upon the babies birth.(This is not to say that the mother is not pleased with the baby or that she will not love him/her. Just that the NATURAL aspects of the birth are not all in play to ENHANCE bonding at the moment of birth. *I* think this is one reason that moms are so willing to send baby to the nursery so soon after birth. As well the effects of epinephrine are not triggered so baby MAY NOT be as alert. *I* think that the mother feels the effects of the endorphins after the epidural takes the labor pains away, and is the reason that women say they LOVE their anesthesiologist!!! He is the one responsible for the end of the labor, not the baby. <grin again>.

In any course, if labor is obstructed/replaced by either maternal emotions or medical chemicals/procedures, the baby is effected way more than during labor.

Birth at home lets this chemical symphony of birth play out in the melody that is meant to be played. Some melodies are soft and sweet, some are loud and bawdy, everyone one sings a different labor song. But all processes involve faith and trust in our bodies to work the way they NEED to. If you make one element of labor out of tune, the song just does not play right. Know what I mean?

References: 

Childbirth Without Fear- Grantly Dick Reed 

The Nature of Birth and Breastfeeding- Michel Odent