Associations among Caesarean Section Birth, Post-Traumatic Stress, and Postpartum Depression Symptoms

Caesarean section (C-section) deliveries account for nearly 30% of births annually with emergency C-sections accounting for 7–9% of all births. Studies have linked C-sections to postpartum depression (PPD).This study provides evidence that unplanned, or emergency C-sections may play a role in the development of maternal PPD. The study found that emergency C-section was associated with more postpartum PTSD symptoms, which in turn was associated with a higher number of symptoms of PPD among new mothers.