Maternal satisfaction and childbirth experience in anaesthesia assisted and non anaesthesia assisted labour: a comparative study in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Background Maternal satisfaction during childbirth is a multidimensional concept influenced by pain management, perceived control, emotional support, and overall birth experience. Although neuraxial anaesthesia is effective in relieving labour pain, its impact on overall maternal satisfaction remains controversial. Evidence from Saudi Arabia on this topic remains limited. Objective To compare maternal satisfaction between women receiving epidural anesthesia and those delivering without anesthesia. Methods A comparative cross sectional observational study was conducted at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Jeddah. A total of 430 women were included in the analysis, of whom 96 received anaesthesia assisted labour and 334 delivered without anaesthesia. Maternal satisfaction was assessed using a structured self reported questionnaire consisting of ten Likert scale items scored from 1 to 7. Sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics were compared between groups using the Wilcoxon rank sum test, chi square test, or Fisher exact test as appropriate. Multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between anaesthesia use and maternal satisfaction after adjustment for potential confounders. Results Women who received anaesthesia assisted labour reported significantly higher composite satisfaction scores compared with those delivering without anaesthesia (67.76 ± 2.07 vs 58.10 ± 4.31; p < 0.001). Median scores showed a similar pattern (68 [66–70] vs 58 [55–61]). After adjustment for maternal age, employment status, pregnancy order, and chronic medical disorders, anaesthesia assisted labour remained strongly associated with higher maternal satisfaction scores (adjusted mean difference 9.13; 95% CI 8.39 to 9.87; p < 0.001). The standardized effect size indicated a very large difference between groups (Cohen’s d = 2.46). Conclusion Anaesthesia-assisted labour was linked to much higher satisfaction with the childbirth experience compared with labour without anaesthesia. Although both groups reported generally positive childbirth experiences, women receiving epidural analgesia consistently reported higher satisfaction across multiple domains of care. These findings can help guide discussions about pain relief options for women in labour and support improvements in maternity care in Saudi Arabia.