[Satisfaction with delivery and maternal identity with epidural labor analgesia among Japanese women with children younger than 3 years of age: a web-based survey].

Background: In Japan, it has been thought that pain during labor develops maternal identity and there are cultural and psychological barriers to the use of epidural labor analgesia. The objective of this study was to examine epidemiologic data and psychological data about satisfaction with delivery and maternal identity with epidural labor analgesia.

Methods: A web-based survey was randomly conducted in 1,000 women (ages, 20-40 years) with children under the age of 3 years. The questionnaire included the basic characteristics of the participants and children, their experiences with delivery and two scales to evaluate satisfaction of delivery and maternal identity.

Results: There were a total of 1,030 respondents and 50 (5.0%) respondents reported having epidural labor analgesia. Scores about self-evaluation scales for satisfaction of delivery and maternal identity among women of epidural labor analgesia were not significantly different with those among women of spontaneous delivery.

Conclusions: Satisfaction with delivery and maternal identity are not influenced by chosing epidural labor analgesia.