New research shows women undergoing C-section deliveries face greater risks of severe pain and sleep disorders in the months after giving birth. Presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2025 annual meeting, the study highlights a 16% higher likelihood of new sleep disorder diagnoses compared to vaginal births. Effective pain management and sleep strategies can help mitigate these complications.
Researchers from Stanford University presented findings at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2025 annual meeting, revealing that cesarean deliveries increase the chances of intense postpartum pain and sleep disturbances. Lead author Moe Takenoshita, M.B.B.Ch., a postdoctoral scholar in anesthesia at Stanford University Center for Academic Medicine in Palo Alto, California, emphasized the importance of sleep in recovery. "Sleep is often overlooked in postpartum recovery, but it is central to a mother's physical and mental health," Takenoshita said. The study links these issues to potential postpartum depression, cognitive problems, fatigue, and strained family bonds.
The research combined qualitative interviews with 41 mothers—24 who had vaginal deliveries, 11 with planned C-sections, and six with unplanned ones—and quantitative data from a national insurance database covering over 1.5 million births between 2008 and 2021. In the interviews, severe pain disrupting sleep and daily activities affected 73% of planned C-section mothers and 67% of unplanned ones, versus just 8% of vaginal birth mothers. The database analysis showed C-section mothers were 16% more likely to receive a new diagnosis of sleep disorders, such as insomnia, sleep deprivation, or obstructive sleep apnea, from one month to one year postpartum.
Takenoshita recommended proactive measures, including effective pain control to prevent sleep interference, light physical activity, napping with the baby, limiting caffeine and alcohol, and bedtime routines like bathing or deep breathing. "About one-third of U.S. births are C-sections," she noted, urging mothers to discuss sleep concerns with physicians for evaluation and possible specialist referrals. These insights underscore the need for tailored postpartum care to support recovery and well-being.