Overview
A large U.S. study published in Obstetrics and Gynecology examined whether the way a baby is delivered is linked to a mother’s risk of developing a new psychiatric condition after birth. The main finding was that cesarean delivery, whether planned or unplanned, was associated with a higher rate of postpartum psychiatric diagnoses or antidepressant use within 6 months after delivery. In contrast, successful operative vaginal delivery, such as vacuum or forceps-assisted birth, was not associated with increased risk compared with spontaneous vaginal birth.
These findings matter because postpartum mental health conditions are common, often underrecognized, and can affect maternal well-being, infant care, bonding, and family health. Understanding which delivery experiences are associated with higher risk may help clinicians identify patients who need closer follow-up after birth.
Why this study was done
Postpartum psychiatric conditions include depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and other serious mental health disorders that can begin or worsen after childbirth. Some mothers also start antidepressant treatment postpartum because of new symptoms or recurrence of a prior condition that was not documented before delivery.
Researchers wanted to know whether delivery mode itself is associated with the development of new postpartum psychiatric problems. This question is clinically important because delivery mode can shape a patient’s physical recovery, pain, mobility, perceived birth experience, and expectations about future pregnancies. A difficult or unexpected birth can sometimes contribute to stress, disappointment, fear, or trauma, all of which may increase mental health risk.
How the study was designed
This was an observational cohort study using the Merative MarketScan Commercial Database, which includes insured individuals in the United States. The study covered births from 2008 through 2022.
Researchers included people with singleton live births and excluded those with a psychiatric diagnosis before delivery, as well as preterm births before 37 weeks of gestation. Excluding pre-existing psychiatric illness helped the investigators focus on new postpartum conditions rather than ongoing mental health treatment.
Delivery mode was grouped into five categories:
1. Spontaneous vaginal delivery
2. Successful operative vaginal delivery, such as vacuum or forceps-assisted birth
3. Planned cesarean delivery
4. Unplanned cesarean delivery without an attempt at operative vaginal delivery
5. Unplanned cesarean delivery after a failed attempt at operative vaginal delivery
The main outcome was a new diagnosis of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, or another serious psychiatric condition, or a new antidepressant prescription within 6 months after birth. The researchers used multivariable Poisson regression with robust standard errors to account for measured differences between groups and estimate relative risk.
Key results
A total of 934,524 births met the study criteria.
The delivery distribution was:
– 66% spontaneous vaginal births
– 4% successful operative vaginal deliveries
– 14% planned cesarean deliveries
– 15% unplanned cesarean deliveries without an attempted operative vaginal delivery
– 1% unplanned cesarean deliveries after failed operative vaginal delivery
Overall, postpartum psychiatric conditions were more common after cesarean birth than after spontaneous vaginal birth.
Compared with spontaneous vaginal delivery, the adjusted risk of postpartum psychiatric conditions was:
– Higher after planned cesarean delivery: 11.4% vs 9.2%, adjusted risk ratio 1.19
– Higher after unplanned cesarean delivery without operative vaginal attempt: 10.8% vs 9.2%, adjusted risk ratio 1.16
– Higher after unplanned cesarean delivery after failed operative vaginal attempt: 10.9% vs 9.2%, adjusted risk ratio 1.26
In contrast, people with successful operative vaginal delivery had a similar risk to those with spontaneous vaginal birth:
– 9.2% vs 9.2%, adjusted risk ratio 1.00
The confidence intervals around these estimates suggest that the increased risks after cesarean delivery were statistically meaningful, while the successful operative vaginal delivery group did not differ from the spontaneous vaginal delivery group.
What the findings may mean
This study suggests that cesarean delivery may be associated with a higher chance of postpartum psychiatric illness, regardless of whether the surgery was planned or unplanned. The difference was not seen after successful operative vaginal delivery.
Several explanations are possible. Cesarean birth can involve:
– Greater physical recovery burden
– More postoperative pain and activity limitations
– Feelings of loss of control or disappointment if the surgery was not planned
– Separation from the birth experience a patient hoped for
– Emotional distress related to complications or emergency decision-making
However, the study was observational, so it cannot prove that cesarean delivery causes postpartum psychiatric illness. It is possible that some factors linked to needing a cesarean, such as pregnancy complications, labor difficulties, or maternal stress before delivery, also contribute to later mental health outcomes. Although the researchers adjusted for measured confounders, unmeasured factors may still influence the results.
Why successful operative vaginal delivery may not carry the same risk
The finding that successful operative vaginal delivery was not associated with increased psychiatric risk is notable. Operative vaginal delivery is often used when vaginal birth is otherwise progressing but help is needed to complete the delivery safely and efficiently.
This may preserve some aspects of a vaginal birth experience, potentially avoiding the longer recovery and surgical stress of cesarean delivery. It may also reflect that, when successful, operative vaginal delivery can prevent escalation to a cesarean operation after prolonged labor.
That said, operative vaginal delivery is not appropriate in every situation and has its own risks and benefits. The results do not mean it is the right choice for everyone; rather, they suggest that the mental health outcome profile may differ from cesarean birth.
Clinical implications
The study highlights the importance of postpartum mental health screening, especially after cesarean delivery. Clinicians may want to pay closer attention to symptoms such as:
– Persistent sadness or tearfulness
– Excessive worry or panic
– Sleep problems beyond expected newborn care disruption
– Intrusive memories or distress related to the birth
– Loss of interest, guilt, or hopelessness
– Difficulty bonding with the baby
For patients recovering from cesarean birth, follow-up visits should consider both physical and emotional recovery. Early identification can lead to support such as counseling, psychotherapy, social support, medication when appropriate, and referral to perinatal mental health specialists.
Hospitals and obstetric teams may also use these findings to improve informed consent discussions. Patients should know that delivery mode is not only a physical issue; it may also affect postpartum emotional health. This does not mean cesarean delivery should be avoided when medically indicated. Rather, it reinforces the need for individualized care and proactive support afterward.
Important limitations
Like all large database studies, this one has limitations. Claims data may miss psychiatric symptoms that were not formally diagnosed or treated. Some patients with postpartum distress may never seek care or receive coding that reflects their symptoms.
Other limitations include:
– Lack of detailed information about birth preferences, labor experiences, pain severity, or patient satisfaction
– Limited ability to measure social factors such as partner support, income changes, or access to mental health services
– Possible residual confounding from pregnancy complications or other unmeasured clinical factors
– Reliance on insurance claims rather than direct patient interviews or standardized psychiatric assessments
Because of these limitations, the findings should be interpreted as an association, not proof of causation.
Bottom line
In this large national cohort, postpartum psychiatric conditions were more common after cesarean delivery than after spontaneous vaginal delivery. Planned and unplanned cesareans were both associated with higher risk, while successful operative vaginal delivery was not.
The results support closer mental health surveillance after cesarean birth and suggest that postpartum follow-up should include emotional as well as physical recovery. More research is needed to clarify why these associations exist and how best to prevent postpartum psychiatric illness in higher-risk patients.