Not yet recruitingOBSERVATIONAL

A Longitudinal, Cohort Study Investigating the Impact of General Anaesthetic Caesarean Birth, With or Without ICU Admission, on Maternal Mental Health and Mother/Infant Bonding

This study wants to understand how a C-section performed with a general anaesthetic (where you're fully asleep) can affect a mother's mental health and how she bonds with her baby. Especially if she then needed to go to Intensive Care. About 6,000 women in the UK have C-sections this way each year, and some end up in ICU, but we don't know much about the long-term impact on them and their families. The research will also look at women who had a C-section with an epidural or spinal anaesthetic to compare experiences. This will help us learn more about the emotional journey of new mums after different types of C-sections.

At a glance

Status

Not yet recruiting

Sponsor

King's College London

Enrolment target

500

Start

01 Nov 2025

Estimated completion

30 Jun 2026

General Anaesthesia During Pregnancy

What is this study about?

Birth is a huge moment in a woman's life, and for many, it's a conscious experience where they can meet their baby straight away. However, if you have a C-section with a general anaesthetic, you are completely asleep during the birth. This means you miss the immediate moments of seeing your baby being born and meeting them right after.

Sometimes, after a general anaesthetic C-section, a small number of women might need to go to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). This can mean even more time passes before they can fully connect with their new baby. These kinds of experiences might make it harder for new mothers to bond with their baby or could affect their mental health. But currently, we don't know enough about how these events truly impact mums and their families.

This study aims to find out more. It will ask women who've had a general anaesthetic C-section, including those who went to ICU afterwards, about their mental health and how they bonded with their baby. It will also gather information from women who had a C-section with an epidural or spinal anaesthetic. By comparing these experiences, researchers hope to understand the differences and learn how to better support new mothers in the future.

Key takeaways

Looks at how C-section anaesthetic types affect mums.
Focuses on mental health and bonding with baby.
Compares general anaesthetic to other pain relief methods.
Especially interested in C-sections followed by ICU stays.
Involves answering online questionnaires.
Your input could help improve support for future mums.

Who may be eligible?

To take part in this study, you need to be at least 18 years old. You must have given birth by C-section in a UK hospital within the last 12 months. It's also important that you can use the internet, as the study involves completing online questionnaires.

This study is specifically looking for women who had a C-section where they were put to sleep with a general anaesthetic, especially if they then needed a stay in Intensive Care. However, they are also including women who had a C-section with an epidural or spinal pain relief to compare different experiences.

You cannot take part if you are under 18, had a vaginal birth, had your C-section outside the UK, or if your C-section was more than 12 months ago.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 years old or older?
Did you have a C-section in a UK hospital within the last 12 months?
Can you easily access the internet for online questionnaires?
Did you have a general anaesthetic C-section (even if you weren't in ICU)?
Or, did you have a C-section with an epidural or spinal anaesthetic?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to join this study, you will be asked to complete some online questionnaires. These questionnaires will ask about your mental health (for example, feelings of stress or anxiety), your experiences of childbirth, and how you are bonding with your baby. You'll complete the first set of questionnaires after you join, and then you'll be asked to complete them again about three months later. There are no clinic visits, medication, or medical procedures involved in this study. You will not be given any medical advice as part of this research.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study could help future mothers and families by providing important information about the impact of different C-section experiences. While there are no direct medical benefits for you, your contribution could make a real difference to improving support for women after birth. The main risk is that answering questions about your mental health and childbirth experience might bring up difficult feelings for some. However, you can stop taking part at any time without giving a reason, and your decision will not affect your medical care.

Locations (1)

Faculty of Life Science and Medicine
Verified postcode
London, United Kingdom

Common questions

What is a 'general anaesthetic C-section'?

It's when you have a Caesarean section operation while you are completely asleep, usually done when an epidural or spinal anaesthetic isn't suitable or there's an emergency.

What is 'mother/infant bonding'?

This refers to the special emotional connection that develops between a mother and her baby after birth.

Why is the study interested in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admissions?

Sometimes, after a general anaesthetic C-section, a mother might need to go to ICU, which means she's separated from her baby for longer. The study wants to understand if this has a particular impact on her well-being and bonding.

Will my personal details be kept private?

Yes, all the information you provide for the study will be kept confidential and used for research purposes only.

Do I have to live in a certain part of the UK to join?

No, as long as you had your C-section in any UK hospital and meet the other criteria, you can take part.

How to find out more

Michelle Anderson, PhD Candidate

michelle.4.anderson@kcl.ac.uk +447957955462 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.