The relationship between postpartum pain and mother-infant bonding: A prospective observational study

Rostislav Shebelsky, Wadeea Sadi, Philip Heesen, Rachel N. Aber, Shai Fein, Daniel Iluz-Freundlich, Anat Shmueli, Karam Azem, Inbar Radyan Tamayev, Yair Binyamin, Sharon Orbach-Zinger

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Introduction: Postpartum pain is associated with impaired maternal recovery and may influence mother-infant bonding. Methods: Participants who underwent a vaginal or cesarean delivery were assessed 24 h postpartum. Postpartum pain intensity was measured using the Verbal Numeric Score (VNS) (0−10) and classified as non-severe (<8) or severe pain (≥8). Maternal-infant bonding was evaluated using the Post-Partum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ; 0–125), with a score > 5 defining impaired bonding. Demographic data included age, BMI, parity, education level, economic status, partnership, prior history of depression, familial history of depression, desire to breastfeed, epidural analgesia during labor, rooming in, and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Data were analyzed using 2 separate multivariable logistic regression models for vaginal and cesarean deliveries, where maximum postpartum pain was the independent variable and impaired postpartum bonding was the dependent variable and controlled for the other factors collected. Results: Severe postpartum pain (VNS ≥ 8) showed no significant relationship with impaired bonding when controlling for confounding variables. In vaginal deliveries, there was an association between a history of depression and impaired bonding (Odds Ratio 2.2 [1.07–4.65], p = 0.04) and EPDS > 10 and impaired bonding (OR 11.5 [3.2–73.6], p < 0.001). For cesarean deliveries, rooming in with the baby had a protective effect (OR 11.5 [3.2–73.6], p < 0.001). Conclusions: Contrary to expectations, severe postpartum pain did not influence maternal-infant binding in the cohort of patients with vaginal and cesarean deliveries. Instead, factors such as maternal mental health and rooming-in practices appeared to exert more significant influence. Clinical trial registration: NCT05206552.

Original languageEnglish
Article number101315
JournalAnaesthesia Critical Care and Pain Medicine
Volume43
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Feb 2024

Keywords

  • Impaired bonding
  • Labor pain
  • Mother-infant bonding
  • Peripartum pain
  • Post-partum depression

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine
  • Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

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