Reviewer’s report  
 
Title: Psychosocial factors that mediate the association between mode of birth and maternal 
postnatal adjustment: findings from a population -based survey  
 
Version: 0 Date: 31 Aug 2018  
 
Reviewer: Lauren Carson  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
This paper examining the association between the mode of birth and maternal postnatal 
adjustment. It is an important scientific area which is worthy of further investigation.  
 
My main comments are:  
 
- Were potential participants excl uded if the infant had a serious medical problem or 
condition (e.g. genetic disorder or cerebral palsy)?  
- Was there any measure of paternal/social support? If so was this adjusted for?  
- The abstract would benefit from a slight amendment to emphases that  this study showed 
an association with unplanned CS rather than CS in general. A planned and unplanned 
CS are under very different circumstances and this is not highlighted in the abstract or 
explained in detail in the main manuscript.  
 
 
My recommendation s for minor amendments are listed below:  
 
Line 176, 191 & 194 - The tables here might need amending as they are not easy to take in - 
however this may be amended once formatted for the publication.  
 
Line 264 - please can the authors confirm that the associat ion between maternal age and mode of 
birth was not moderated by social economic status.  
 
Line 290 - Please define what is meant by Infant Health  
 
Line 355 - was the mental health of the mothers examined with regard to methodological 
limitations? Was there a  different rate of questionnaire response if the mother experienced 
mental health problems?  
 
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately  supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended,  please specify what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the public ation of this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently  applying for any patents relating to the content of the 
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other fi nancial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give detai ls below.  
 
I declare that I have no  competing interests'.  
 
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to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal