Introduction: The negative experience of childbirth has many consequences for the mother and the baby. This study analyzed the relationship of childbirth experience with mother-infant bonding and the child's growth and development. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the participants were 216 eligible women selected from all health centers in Zanjan City, Iran (36 health centers), using the census method. Data collection tools were as follows: childbirth experience questionnaire 2.0, postpartum bonding questionnaire, anthropometric indices checklist, and developmental age and stages questionnaire. The Pearson correlation test was used to determine the relationship of variables in univariate analysis, and a general linear model was used in the multivariate analysis. Results: The mean ± SD of the participants was 29.0 ± 5.7 years. Less than half of the studied women (40.3%) had a diploma, and most wanted pregnancy (94.9%). The mean ± SD scores of the childbirth experience and postpartum bondings were 2.6 ± 0.5 (score range: 1-4) and 6.6 ± 2.7 (score range: 0-125), respectively. Regarding child development, the highest mean score was in the domain of problem-solving (56.8 ± 5.7), and the lowest was in the domain of communication (50.1 ± 8.3). The results of the Pearson correlation test showed that the childbirth experience had a significant inverse correlation with the mother-infant bonding (r = -0.23, P = 0.001) and a significant direct correlation with fine motions (r = 0.18, P = 0.007). The results of the general linear model after adjusting the socio-demographic and obstetrics characteristics showed that the postpartum bonding score was lower in women with a more positive childbirth experience, which was also an indication of a better bonding (B= -2.92, 95% CI; -4.85 to -0.98, P = 0.003). Besides, the fine motor score was higher in women with a positive childbirth experience (B= 3.11, 95% CI: 0.733-5.487, P = 0.011). Conclusion: Considering the correlation between the variables of childbirth experience and mother-infant bonding and child development in the domain of ​​fine motor, health providers must do their best to create positive childbirth experiences for the women to improve the mother-infant bonding and child development domains.

The current cross-sectional study analyzed the relationship between childbirth experience and sexual function and sleep quality among women 4 to 5 months postpartum ( N = 216). Data were collected using a sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics questionnaire, and the Childbirth Experience Questionnaire-2, Female Sexual Function Index, and Postpartum Sleep Quality Scale. Mean scores of childbirth experience, sexual function, and sleep quality were 2.6 ( SD = 0.5), 24.3 ( SD = 6.3), and 47.9 ( SD = 8.6), respectively. There were significant correlations between childbirth experience and sleep quality ( r = 0.16, p = 0.017) and sexual function ( r = 0.26, p < 0.001). Results of the general linear model indicated that sexual function (β = 3.25, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.27, 4.87]) and sleep quality (β = 2.7, 95% CI [0.29, 4.65]) scores increased significantly as the score of childbirth experience increased. Given the direct correlation between childbirth experience and sexual function and sleep quality in postpartum women, implementation of specific programs, such as childbirth preparation classes, is recommended to improve childbirth experience to prevent negative consequences, such as sexual dysfunction and impaired sleep quality. [ Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 60 (12), 49–55.]