Effect of labor analgesia on development of postpartum depression / 中华麻醉学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the effect of labor analgesia on the development of postpartum depression.Methods Seventy nulliparous parturients who were at full term with a singleton fetus in vertex presentation,aged 20-35 yr,with body mass index＜27 kg/m2,at 38-41 weeks of gestation,of ASA physical status Ⅰ,were enrolled and divided into 2 groups (n =35 each) using a random number tablevaginal delivery group (group VD) and labor analgesia group (group LA).In LA group,the epidural catheter was placed at L2,3 interspace for combined spinal-epidural analgesia when their cervical dilations were in 2-3 cm.VAS score was maintained below 3 after the analgesia.Parturients completed Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale questionnaires 42 days after the labor.The development of depression was recorded.Results The incidence of postnatal depression was significantly lower in LA group (17％) than in VD group (40％).Conclusion Labor analgesia can decrease the development of postpartum depression.