Satisfaction and maternal postnatal adjustments following different modes of delivery

ABSTRACT

Background: Childbirth has a profound influence in a women’s life. One factor that has been more consistently identified as influencing the women’s physical and psychological symptoms following childbirth is the mode of birth.  This study aims at figuring out on women’s satisfaction with their mode of delivery and what difficulties they faced in the immediate postnatal period accordingly.Methods: All women who delivered between the period 1st July 2019 to 1st August 2019 were interviewed with a pretested semi structured questionnaire on postnatal day two. Patient was asked how much they were satisfied with their mode of delivery, immediate postnatal adjustments like ambulation, holding the baby first time, initiation of breastfeeding and pain score following different modes of delivery. The data was analysed to find out which mode of delivery made women more comfortable in the immediate postnatal period.Results: A total 97.1% women were satisfied with the support they got from health care professionals during labour. But when compared, spontaneous vaginal delivery group were satisfied with their mode of delivery (P-value-0.0005 highly significant) than the rest. Women who had vaginal delivery were ahead of caesarean group in terms of ambulation, holding the baby, initiation of breastfeeding and were well adjusted in their postnatal period.Conclusions: Authors conclude that women in our study were more satisfied with spontaneous vaginal delivery than caesarean section which was reflected in their immediate postnatal adjustments. As obstetricians’ authors need to understand the empowering effects of the psychological experience of vaginal delivery. The benefits of this process can be maximized through good communication skills and emotional support for women, enhancing their confidence to deliver normally so that caesarean section is done only when really indicated.