I'm not sure about the bonding and connection, but from what I've seen with various friends, the amount of stress definitely affects bubs. I've always said to DH, before we got PG, "no matter how irrational I get, you need to keep me relaxed and level-headed". I think it's important - for us at least. Also the type of birth seems to reflect your personality later in life. Bubs with a stressful birth seem to be more stressed, bubs with a longer labor seem to take thing slow and easy. DH changes his mind on things every second day (drives me NUTS!), then I talked to his mum and she said he was ready to arrive, travelling down the birth canal, then went back up and they had to wait till he was ready again.

But I have nothing to back that up - just from people I've known and cases I've seen. Interesting to think about tho'.