Maternal Expectations on Labor Analgesia and Risk of Postpartum Depression: An Observational Study

Conditions studied

Postpartum Depression (PPD), Labor Analgesia, Expectations

About this study

Postpartum Depression (PPD) is defined as the development of depression at any time during the first year after childbirth¹. Its prevalence ranges from 15% to 20%. It can manifest with symptoms such as depressed mood, loss of interest and energy, insomnia, anxiety, and may even lead to suicidal ideation. The consequences are numerous, both physical and psychological, with long-term repercussions on the mother-infant bond, family dysfunction, and the development of emotional and cognitive disorders in children. The etiology of PPD is multifactorial, but numerous recent studies have focused on the role of labor pain and its management with labor analgesia techniques. The aim of the present study is therefore to assess whether there is a difference in the incidence of PPD between parturients whose expectations regarding labor analgesia were met ('expectations met' group) versus those whose expectations were unmet.

Interventions

• Procedure: Epidural analgesia — Analgesia via epidural catheter using local anesthetic ± opioid, administered on patient request during labor.
• Procedure: Spinal analgesia for labour pain — Single-shot spinal analgesia
• Other: No neuraxial analgesia — Patients did not received spinal or epidural labour analgesia

Primary outcomes

• incidence of postpartum depression (6 months since labour)

Eligibility information

Study locations

• University Hospital of Padova, Padova, Veneto 35127 Italy