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NCT Number: NCT07582289

Labor Epidural Analgesia and Mother-Infant Bonding After Vaginal Delivery

This prospective observational cohort study aims to evaluate the association between postpartum recovery quality and mother-infant bonding in women undergoing vaginal delivery. Postpartum recovery quality will be assessed using the Obstetric Quality of Recovery-10 (ObsQoR-10) questionnaire, and mother-infant bonding will be evaluated using the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ).

Participants will be grouped according to routine clinical labor analgesia preference: women receiving labor epidural analgesia and women not receiving epidural analgesia. Additional assessments will include postpartum pain intensity, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and birth satisfaction.

Baseline psychological assessments will be performed before delivery. The primary postpartum evaluation will be conducted between 6 and 24 hours after delivery. Exploratory follow-up assessments will be performed by telephone during postpartum week 2.

The study aims to better understand the relationship between labor analgesia, postpartum recovery, and early mother-infant bonding outcomes after vaginal delivery.

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Key information

Conditions

Postpartum Recovery Depression, Postpartum Depressive Disorder Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications Labor Pain Mental Disorders Mood Disorders Mother-Infant Bonding Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Pregnancy Complications Puerperal Disorders Signs and Symptoms Urogenital Diseases

Age range

18 year–40 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Ataturk University

Erzurum, 25000, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location contact

Ayşe Ceren Hilal Güven, assistant doctor

CONTACT

[email protected]

554-112-25-81

About this study

This single-center prospective observational cohort study will be conducted at Atatürk University Research Hospital. The study will include term pregnant women planning vaginal delivery.

Participants will be classified into two cohorts according to routine clinical labor analgesia preference:

Women receiving labor epidural analgesia Women not receiving labor epidural analgesia No experimental intervention will be applied as part of the study protocol. Epidural analgesia, when used, will be administered according to routine clinical practice.

Primary Objective:

To evaluate the association between postpartum recovery quality measured using the ObsQoR-10 questionnaire and mother-infant bonding measured using the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ), and to investigate the role of labor epidural analgesia in this relationship.

Secondary Objectives:

To compare postpartum recovery quality between cohorts To compare mother-infant bonding outcomes between cohorts To evaluate postpartum pain, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and birth satisfaction To assess the association between obstetric variables and postpartum recovery outcomes

Assessments:

Prepartum:

STAIS-5 EPDS

Early postpartum period (6-24 hours):

ObsQoR-10 PBQ STAIS-5 EPDS Pain score (VAS/NRS) Birth satisfaction Likert scale

Postpartum week 2:

PBQ EPDS Participants will provide written informed consent before enrollment. All collected data will be anonymized and analyzed confidentially.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Female participants aged 18 to 40 years
  • Term singleton pregnancy (≥37 weeks)
  • Planned vaginal delivery
  • ASA physical status II
  • Ability to understand Turkish
  • Written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

  • Contraindications to epidural analgesia including coagulopathy, anticoagulant use, infection, or increased intracranial pressure
  • Cesarean delivery
  • High-risk pregnancy
  • Neonatal intensive care unit requirement
  • Major depressive disorder
  • Anxiety disorder
  • Current psychotropic medication use

Treatment and study plan

Labor Epidural Analgesia

Procedure

Epidural analgesia administered during labor as part of routine clinical care for pain management during vaginal delivery.

Primary outcomes

  1. Mother-Infant Bonding Score

    Time frame: 6 to 24 hours after vaginal delivery

    Mother-infant bonding will be assessed using the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ), a 25-item scale with a total score ranging from 0 to 125. Lower scores indicate better mother-infant bonding, while higher scores indicate poorer bonding.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Postpartum Recovery Quality Score

    Time frame: 6 to 24 hours after vaginal delivery

    Postpartum recovery quality will be assessed using the Obstetric Quality of Recovery-10 (ObsQoR-10) questionnaire. Higher scores indicate better postpartum recovery quality.

  2. Postpartum Pain Intensity

    Time frame: 6 to 24 hours after vaginal delivery

    Postpartum pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) or Numeric Rating Scale (NRS).

  3. Postpartum Anxiety Level

    Time frame: 6 to 24 hours after vaginal delivery

    Postpartum anxiety level will be assessed using the STAIS-5 questionnaire.

  4. Postpartum Depressive Symptoms

    Time frame: 6 to 24 hours after vaginal delivery

    Postpartum depressive symptoms will be assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS).

  5. Birth Satisfaction Score

    Time frame: 6 to 24 hours after vaginal delivery

    Birth satisfaction will be assessed using a 4-point Likert scale.

  6. Mother-Infant Bonding at Postpartum Week 2

    Time frame: 2 weeks after vaginal delivery

    Mother-infant bonding will be reassessed using the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ) during telephone follow-up at postpartum week 2.

  7. Postpartum Depressive Symptoms at Week 2

    Time frame: 2 weeks after vaginal delivery

    Postpartum depressive symptoms will be reassessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) during telephone follow-up at postpartum week 2.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Ayşe Ceren Hilal Güven, assistant doctor

CONTACT

[email protected]

+90 554 112 25 81

Ayşenur Dostbil, Associate Professor

CONTACT

[email protected]

+90 533 367 66 96

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Ataturk University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Association Between Postpartum Recovery Quality Measured by ObsQoR-10 and Mother-Infant Bonding After Vaginal Delivery: The Role of Labor Epidural Analgesia

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2029
Study completion
2029
First posted
May 12, 2026
Registry last updated
Jun 3, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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