Childbirth experience and postpartum emotional disturbance

Fear of childbirth during pregnancy may increase the risk of emergency cesarean section

“…Their high level of general anxiety and low stress tolerance may inhibit their postpartum adaptation process. They are also more likely to be dissatisfied with their delivery experience (11), which can provoke posttraumatic stress reactions (18,19) or other emotional distress postpartum (20)(21)(22)(23). Imminent fetal asphyxia was the chief reason for emergency CS in this group, but whether or not this was related to anxiety, exemplified by maternal smoking, hyperventilation during labor, hyperactive uterine contractions, or some other hitherto unknown factor, was not ascertained in this study which focused on antepartum variables.…”

Psychosocial predictors of disappointment with delivery and puerperal depression

“…A woman showing high neuroticism might benefit from support of their spouses during pregnancy, labor and delivery, and in puerperium. Earlier research (16–17) has shown that deficient support of the spouse is closely associated with puerperal depression. This was also found in this longitudinal study, although its impact was not significant after controlling women’s earlier depression.…”

“…Pregnancy‐ and delivery‐related feelings and fears were found to be influenced by personality characteristics. Some previous studies have indicated that the more anxious and psychosocially stressed the woman is, the higher her dissatisfaction with her antenatal treatment, and the higher the risk of intrapartum complications as well as puerperal depression (6–7, 15–16, 25). According to our data, dissatisfaction occurs in anxious and stressed women even with normal pregnancy and delivery.…”

Risk of postnatal depression after emergency delivery

“…Other major predictors of PND include previous depression, neuroticism, and psychosocial stress 13,19–21 . Higher cesarean section rates have also been reported in women who had contact with psychiatric services 21 .…”