Mode of Delivery and Maternal Postpartum Health: A Scoping Review of Physical, Psychological and Social Outcomes

Background: The postpartum period is characterised by substantial physical, psychological, social, and lifestyle changes that may influence maternal well-being and health-related quality of life. Mode of delivery may affect physical recovery and quality of life, while postpartum depression and other psychosocial factors may further influence maternal functioning. However, postpartum health is multidimensional and cannot be explained by delivery mode alone. Objective: This scoping review aimed to map the available evidence concerning the relationship between mode of delivery and postpartum health outcomes among women, with particular attention to postpartum depression, physical recovery, health-related quality of life, lifestyle and weight-related outcomes, social support, postpartum care, and differences between working and non-working women. Methods: A literature search was conducted using PubMed. Search terms were developed around the concepts of mode of delivery, postpartum health, postpartum depression, health-related quality of life, lifestyle, working women, non-working women, and India. Retrieved records were screened according to the eligibility criteria, and relevant information was extracted and organized according to study characteristics, mode of delivery, population characteristics, and postpartum outcomes. Findings were synthesized descriptively according to major themes. Results: The literature indicates that mode of delivery may be associated with differences in postpartum recovery and health-related quality of life, although findings are not completely consistent and may be influenced by maternal and obstetric characteristics. Cesarean delivery involves surgical recovery and may be associated with greater postoperative discomfort and functional limitations during the early postpartum period. Postpartum depression was identified as an important psychological outcome and was associated with multiple factors, including previous psychological difficulties, inadequate social support, socioeconomic circumstances, and childbirth-related complications. Indian literature indicates substantial variation in the reported burden of postpartum depression across populations and settings. Lifestyle factors, including physical activity, diet, and postpartum weight management, are also relevant to longer-term maternal health. Evidence directly examining the combined relationship between delivery mode, postpartum health, and working status remains limited. Conclusion: Postpartum health should be considered as a multidimensional outcome involving physical recovery, psychological well-being, health-related quality of life, lifestyle, social support, and occupational circumstances. Further research is required to examine these factors together, particularly among working and non-working women and within the Indian context.