C-Section Delivery May Disrupt Sleep and Intensify Postpartum Pain: Study Finds - Video

Women who deliver by cesarean section (C-section) are more likely to suffer from intense postpartum pain and develop sleep disorders, according to new research presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2025 annual meeting. The findings highlight the need for greater attention to sleep and pain management in the postpartum period, particularly among mothers recovering from surgical births.

The study combined qualitative and quantitative methods to explore how childbirth type affects sleep and pain. In the qualitative portion, researchers interviewed 41 mothers—24 who had vaginal deliveries, 11 with planned C-sections, and six with unplanned C-sections—about their postpartum experiences. Among the C-section group, over two-thirds reported severe pain that interfered with sleep and daily functioning (73% of planned and 67% of unplanned), compared to just 8% among vaginal deliveries.

The quantitative analysis examined data from over 1.5 million mothers who gave birth between 2008 and 2021 using a national insurance database. It revealed that women who had C-sections were 16% more likely to be newly diagnosed with sleep disorders such as insomnia, sleep deprivation, or obstructive sleep apnea within the first year after delivery.

"Sleep is often overlooked in postpartum recovery, but it is central to a mother's physical and mental health," said Moe Takenoshita, M.B.B.Ch., the study’s lead author and postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University Center for Academic Medicine. "Cesarean delivery in particular appears to increase the risk for severe pain and sleep disorders, which can lead to postpartum depression, thinking and memory problems, and fatigue, as well as disrupt bonding with their babies and relationships with family and friends."

Dr. Takenoshita emphasized that new mothers, especially those recovering from C-sections, should proactively manage pain and adopt strategies to improve sleep, such as resting when the baby sleeps, avoiding stimulants late in the day, and practicing relaxation techniques before bed.

Reference: https://www.asahq.org/annualmeeting