ReviewAJOG global reports2025
What delivery-related factors affect postpartum recovery? A systematic review.
Review in AJOG global reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- The influence of antenatal and pregnancy-related factors on recovery after childbirth: a systematic review.AJOG global reports · 2026Review
- Risk factors and predictive modeling of postpartum depression among postpartum women: empirical evidence from Chongqing, China.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveThis study aimed to identify the delivery-related factors that affect postpartum recovery. DATA SOURCES: The PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched until April 2024 using the following terms: "Childbirth," "Caesarean section," "Complications," "Recovery," and "Time Factors." Studies in English or Dutch were considered for inclusion. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: All studies that included participants aged ≥18 years who delivered a live-born singleton and that evaluated the effect of delivery-related factors on recovery of health, ability, and activity in the postpartum period with a minimum follow-up period of 6 weeks were included.
methodsData from the included studies were extracted, and quality assessment was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.
resultsA total of 38 articles were included. Of note, 5 different factors related to delivery that could affect recovery were identified as follows: mode of delivery, perineal lacerations, birth experience, parity, and neonatal factors. Articles could evaluate multiple affecting factors. Outcome measures were related to (genitopelvic or surgical site) pain, incontinence, mental health, and functional ability. Of note, 8 articles reported a negative effect on at least one of the outcome measures after cesarean delivery, 4 articles reported no significant difference between the delivery modes, and 2 articles found a negative effect on one of the outcome measures after vaginal delivery compared with cesarean delivery. Most articles (14/17) on perineal trauma reported a negative effect on recovery regarding incontinence and perineal pain. A negative birth experience was significantly associated with postpartum depression up to 6 weeks after childbirth. Parity of >2 was associated with more dyspareunia, and a high neonatal birthweight was associated with more pelvic pain.
conclusionOur study findings indicate that mode of delivery, particularly cesarean delivery, is most frequently reported as having an effect on postpartum recovery. Recovery took longer (and was more painful) after cesarean delivery than after vaginal delivery. Extensive (third- and fourth-degree) perineal lacerations are frequently reported as an affecting factor. A small number of articles used functional ability as an outcome measure and attention for social participation.
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Registered trials
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