GABI Study

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    A longitudinal, cohort study investigating the impact of General Anaesthetic Caesarean Section at Birth, with or without ICU admission, on maternal mental health and mother/infant bonding.

  • IRAS ID

    359600

  • Contact name

    Michelle Anderson

  • Contact email

    michelle.4.anderson@kcl.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    King's College London

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 9 months, 29 days

  • Research summary

    This project aims to explore the impact of general anaesthetic caesarean section (GACS), with or without subsequent ICU admission, on a mother’s mental health and bonding with her newborn. Individuals who have undergone a caesarean section with epidural or spinal anaesthesia can also take part in this study, so that outcomes can be compared for different types of caesarean birth. Information will be collected via an online survey which will take around 15-20 minutes to complete. The survey will contain validated measure which are: The Edinburgh postnatal Depression Scale (one question relating to self-harm), The Depression, Anxiety & Stress Scale (DASS-21), The City Birth Trauma Scale and the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ). These measures will be repeated by participants 3 months after completing the first survey.
    This application is to raise awareness of the study by promoting it at NHS sites. Sites will be asked to display posters and share flyers only. No personal data will be processed at sites and therefore they are not considered to be recruitment sites or PIC sites.

  • REC name

    East of England - Essex Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    25/EE/0181

  • Date of REC Opinion

    28 Oct 2025

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion