Infant feeding methods and maternal sleep and daytime functioning

New parents' sleep, movement, health, and well-being across the postpartum period

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to examine changes and the bi-directional relationship in sleep and movement, and health and well-being among new parents and differences by sex.

METHODS

This secondary data analysis included both conditions from a randomized control trial to improve new parents'physical activity [PA] and recruited couples. Parents (n = 181, 117 couples represented 31.5 ± 4.4 years, 51.3% women, 83.3% White) completed questionnaires on regular overnight sleep duration, PA, mental health (perceived stress), physical health (physical quality of life [PQoL]), and well-being (life satisfaction) at 2-, 4-, 6-, and 8-month postpartum. Random-intercept cross-lagged panel models were stratified by sex to examine changes in sleep and PA with health and well-being across time.

RESULTS

Sleep and stress were interrelated at different times for fathers (2 months), and mothers (8 months). Sleep and PQoL improved across time, with mothers reporting less sleep than fathers at 4 and 6 months. PQoL at 4 months was related to MVPA at 6-months. Life satisfaction and PA at 2 months was related to PA at 4 months.

CONCLUSION

Mothers and fathers experienced different sleep and stress trajectories. Mental health improved postpartum with early connections to PA. Supporting the 24-hour movement behavior cycle and mental health across the parenthood transition may benefit couples.

The Impact of Maternity and Working Demands in Women's Sleep Pattern

This literature review seeks to understand how motherhood and profession affect women's sleep. After the birth of a child, there is an increase in dissatisfaction with the quantity and quality of sleep. Awakenings and sleep disturbances are more frequent and can lead to increased fatigue and stress to reconcile household activities and work demands. These changes in sleep can lead to physical and/or psychological health problems. Sleep hygiene and social support become fundamental for the performance of the maternal tasks, reducing risks and increasing prevention of future problems, both for women and children.

How do infant feeding method, sleeping location, and postpartum depression interact with maternal sleep quality?

New mothers generally experience poor and/or disrupted sleep. A range of infant care and mental health factors may impact new mothers' sleep quality. A cross-sectional online survey was completed by a sample of 101 Australian new mothers with children under 12 months (M = 5.52 months, SD = 3.29 months) to examine the relationship between infant feeding method, infant sleeping location, and postpartum depression with maternal sleep quality. Subjective maternal sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and postpartum depression was measured using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS). Overall, new mothers experienced poor subjective sleep quality, with high average PSQI scores, above the cut-off of 5 (M = 9.63, SD = 4.07). The majority of new mothers did not experience postpartum depression, with an average EPDS score below the cut-off of 11 (8.66, SD = 5.20). Mothers who breastfed their infants experienced significantly better subjective sleep quality than mothers who bottle-fed, with a medium effect size (ηp2 = 0.458). Subjective maternal sleep quality did not differ based on infant sleeping location. Poor subjective maternal sleep quality was a significant predictor of postpartum depression. While poor sleep was common in this sample of Australian new mothers, this study demonstrated that new mothers who breastfeed may experience slightly better subjective sleep quality than other feeding methods. Further research into, and better services for the education and advocation of, new mothers' sleep quality will be beneficial to both new mothers and clinicians.

Perceived Sleep Quality and Fatigue in a Population of New Mothers: A Cross-Sectional Study Comparing Relationships with Breastfeeding and Bottle Feeding

Introduction: This study, which used a cross-sectional design, was carried out to examine the factors associated with the way mothers fed their infants such as breastfeeding or bottle feeding, and to compare perceived sleep quality and fatigue levels. Method: The study sample consisted of a total of 100 women in the 4th to 16th week postpartum, including 50 women breastfeeding and 50 women bottle feeding their infants. The data of the study were collected in Family Health Centers (FHC) through the face-to-face interview technique using "a Personal Information Form," "the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index-PSQI," and "the Checklist Individual Strength-CIS." Results: The mothers' total sleep quality (PSQI) score was found to not differ significantly according to the type of infant feeding. Similarly, total scores for fatigue assessment obtained from the CIS did not differ according to the infant feeding type variable. A significant positive correlation was found between total sleep quality and total fatigue level, and subjective fatigue level. Discussion: The sleep quality and fatigue levels of mothers are independent of the method of feeding their infants. Midwives should plan initiatives with parents to improve maternal sleep quality and reduce fatigue levels and inform parents that breastfeeding is not a factor that reduces sleep quality or increases fatigue. Clinical Trials.gov ID: 1129/5463.

The importance of sleep and parity in understanding changes in weight and breastfeeding behavior among postpartum women

BACKGROUND

Breastfeeding duration has been linked with the health of both women and their children, but research that considers women's weight change postpartum and practical factors that may impact their quality of life (i.e., sleep quantity, number of children) is limited.

METHOD

A survey was administered to 568 women (M age = 31.32 years; SD = 4.21) who had given birth within the past year. The survey included assessments of pre- and post-pregnancy weight and height, breastfeeding practices, current sleep quantity, presence of breastfeeding-specific support, and other demographics including their total number of children.

RESULTS

Greater pre-pregnancy to postpartum weight increase was related to shorter duration of breastfeeding. Mothers who exclusively breastfed for the first six months had less postpartum weight increase (i.e., the discrepancy between their pre-pregnancy and post-pregnancy weight was smaller) than those who did not. Fewer children and greater hours of sleep were significantly associated with longer duration of breastfeeding. Sleep partially accounted for the relationship between body mass index change and breastfeeding duration. Breastfeeding-specific support did not impact the effect of low sleep on shorter breastfeeding duration.

CONCLUSIONS

Duration of breastfeeding may suffer due to fatigue. Sleep plays a key role in understanding the ways in which weight change impact breastfeeding behavior. Greater holistic support for mothers in the postpartum period is needed to foster an environment that encourages breastfeeding.

The Relationship Between a Baby's Age and Sleepiness in a Sample of Mothers

One question of great practical importance for the parents, and especially the mother, after the birth of a baby, refers to how long the time during which they have to go with less and more fragmented sleep actually lasts. Most of the studies only explore this issue up to 6 months of the newborn's life, and less is known about the sleep problems the mothers may have after this initial period. The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between the sleep disruption and daytime sleepiness of mothers with infants until 2 years old compared to a group of women currently not at care of babies. To this end, a sample of 113 women, 67 currently bringing up a baby of under 2 years old, and the remainder without a baby at their care under 6 years old, reported sleep duration, sleep interruptions, sleep quality, and responded to questionnaires of sleep quality and daytime sleepiness. The relationship between the age of the children and the comparison between the groups was used to highlight the sleep problems of the mothers taking care of the infant. The results showed that there was a positive relationship between the age of the infant and the duration of the sleep of the mothers and that the duration of sleep for them was similar to those of the women in the control group about 6 months after the infant was born. However, fragmentation of sleep, daytime sleepiness, and sleep problems were still higher than in the control group for mothers with children between 6 and 12 months old.

A mixed methods study of perinatal sleep and breastfeeding outcomes in women at risk for postpartum depression

INTRODUCTION

Pregnant and postpartum women experience significant sleep disruption, but the role of perinatal sleep disturbances in breastfeeding is understudied.

METHODS

In this observational cohort study, we used mixed methods to examine associations between perinatal sleep and breastfeeding. Forty-eight women (mean age 28.2 ± 4.9 years) who were euthymic at enrollment but had a history of major depression (n = 43) or bipolar disorder (n = 5) had sleep recorded with wrist actigraphy. We determined feeding status through daily diaries and used semi-structured interviews to identify themes regarding participants' experiences, breastfeeding decisions, and behaviors. To examine whether sleep disturbance during pregnancy predicted breastfeeding (BF) rates, we defined "lower sleep efficiency" (LSE) and "higher sleep efficiency" (HSE) groups based on the median split of actigraphic SE at 33 weeks' gestation (cutoff SE = 84.9%) and classified mothers as No-BF, Mixed-BF (BF + formula), and Exclusive-BF at 2 weeks postpartum.

RESULTS

Percentages of women who did any breastfeeding were: Week 2 = 72.3%, Week 6 = 62.5%, Week 16 = 50%. LSE mothers were less likely than HSE mothers to initiate breastfeeding (percent No-BF: LSE = 45.8%, HSE = 16.7%, P < .05). Average actigraphic sleep onset, sleep offset, time in bed, sleep duration, and SE did not differ based on breastfeeding status at any time point. Qualitative themes included insufficient preparation for the demands of breastfeeding, interrupted and nonrestorative sleep, and unrelenting daytime tiredness.

CONCLUSIONS

In our sample, preserved actigraphic SE during pregnancy was associated with initiation and continuation of breastfeeding. Future work should examine whether improving sleep in pregnancy improves mothers' feeding experiences.

Mixed milk feeding: a systematic review and meta-analysis of its prevalence and drivers

CONTEXT

Extensive literature is available on exclusive breastfeeding and formula-feeding practices and health effects. In contrast, limited and unstructured literature exists on mixed milk feeding (MMF), here defined as the combination of breastfeeding and formula feeding during the same period in term infants > 72 hours old (inclusion criterion).

OBJECTIVE

A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, on the global prevalence of MMF (primary outcome) and related drivers and practices (secondary outcomes).

DATA SOURCES

The search of MMF in generally healthy populations was conducted across 6 databases, restricted to publications from January 2000 to August 2018 in English, Spanish, French, and Mandarin.

DATA EXTRACTION

Two reviewers independently performed screenings and data extraction according to a priori inclusion and exclusion criteria.

DATA ANALYSIS

Of the 2931 abstracts identified, 151 full-text publications were included for data extraction and 96 of those were included for data synthesis (the majority of those were cross-sectional and cohort studies). The authors summarized data across 5 different categories (feeding intention prenatally, and 4 age intervals between > 72 hours and > 6-23 months) and 5 regional subgroups. The overall prevalence of MMF across different age intervals and regions varied between 23% and 32%; the highest rate was found for the age group 4-6 months (32%; 95% confidence interval, 27%-38%); regional comparisons indicated highest MMF rates in Asia (34%), North and South America (33%), and Middle East and Africa together (36%), using a random effects meta-analysis model for proportions. Some drivers and practices for MMF were identified.

CONCLUSION

MMF is a widespread feeding reality. A shared and aligned definition of MMF will help shed light on this feeding practice and evaluate its influence on the duration of total breastfeeding, as well as on infants' nutrition status, growth, development, and health status in the short and long terms. PROSPERO registration number CRD42018105337.

Perinatal Insomnia and Mental Health: a Review of Recent Literature

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The perinatal period is a time of high risk for insomnia and mental health conditions. The purpose of this review is to critically examine the most recent literature on perinatal insomnia, focusing on unique features of this period which may confer specific risk, associations with depression and anxiety, and emerging work on perinatal insomnia treatment.

RECENT FINDINGS

A majority of perinatal women experience insomnia, which may persist for years, and is associated with depression and anxiety. Novel risk factors include personality characteristics, nocturnal perinatal-focused rumination, and obesity. Mindfulness and physical activity may be protective. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia is an effective treatment. Perinatal insomnia is exceedingly common, perhaps due to factors unique to this period. Although closely linked to perinatal mental health, more work is needed to establish causality. Future work is also needed to establish the role of racial disparities, tailor treatments, and determine whether insomnia treatment improves perinatal mental health.

Long-term effects of pregnancy and childbirth on sleep satisfaction and duration of first-time and experienced mothers and fathers

STUDY OBJECTIVES

To examine the changes in mothers' and fathers' sleep satisfaction and sleep duration across prepregnancy, pregnancy, and the postpartum period of up to 6 years after birth; it also sought to determine potential protective and risk factors for sleep during that time.

METHODS

Participants in a large population-representative panel study from Germany reported sleep satisfaction and sleep duration in yearly interviews. During the observation period (2008-2015), 2541 women and 2118 men reported the birth of their first, second, or third child and provided longitudinal data for analysis. Fixed-effects regression models were used to analyze changes in sleep associated with childbirth.

RESULTS

Sleep satisfaction and duration sharply declined with childbirth and reached a nadir during the first 3 months postpartum, with women more strongly affected (sleep satisfaction reduction compared with prepregnancy: women, 1.81 points on a 0 to 10 scale, d = 0.79 vs. men, 0.37 points, d = 0.16; sleep duration reduction compared with prepregnancy: women, 62 min, d = 0.90 vs. men, 13 min, d = 0.19). In both women and men, sleep satisfaction and duration did not fully recover for up to 6 years after the birth of their first child. Breastfeeding was associated with a slight decrease in maternal sleep satisfaction (0.72 points, d = 0.32) and duration (14 min, d = 0.21). Parental age, household income, and dual vs. single parenting were unrelated, or only very weakly related, to improved sleep.

CONCLUSIONS

Following the sharp decline in sleep satisfaction and duration in the first months postpartum, neither mothers' nor fathers' sleep fully recovers to prepregnancy levels up to 6 years after the birth of their first child.

What Is “Normal” Infant Sleep? Why We Still Do Not Know

The human need for sleep is universal and unquestioned; however, humans vary in their sleep needs according to age, individual differences, as well as cultural and social norms and practices. Therefore, what is “normal” in infant sleep and the development of sleep architecture in humans is highly dependent on biological and sociocultural variables as well as socially constructed assumptions about what infant sleep “should” look like. This paper uses a multidisciplinary approach to review papers from fields including pediatrics, anthropology, psychology, medicine, and sociology to understand “normal” infant sleep. Because human culture and behavioral practice changes much more quickly than evolved human biology, and because human evolutionary history occurred in the context of breastfeeding and cosleeping, new work in the field of infant sleep architecture development would benefit from a multidisciplinary approach. To come to a consensus about what is “normal” infant sleep, researchers must agree on underlying basic assumptions of infant sleep from which to ask question and interpret findings.

Mother-infant bonding is not associated with feeding type: a community study sample

Background

Bonding refers to emotions and cognitions towards one’s infant. Breastfeeding is believed to facilitate bonding, yet only a handful of studies have empirically tested this assertion. This study aimed to confirm whether a positive association between breastfeeding and bonding exists and whether breastfeeding may be protective against the negative consequences of mood and sleep disturbances on bonding.

Method

A cross-sectional survey was administered to a convenience sample of Israeli mothers of infants ages 1–9 months. The main outcome measures were breastfeeding history, bonding (Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire, PBQ), mood (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, EPDS) and sleep (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI).

Results

Two hundred seventy-one mothers (21–46 years) completed the survey. 65.7% reported current breastfeeding, 22.1% past breastfeeding, 12.2% never nursed. The PBQ correlated with both the EPDS and PSQI. Breastfeeding was associated with greater daytime fatigue, but not with any other sleep problem, and was not associated with bonding. This negative result was confirmed with Bayesian analysis demonstrating that the probability for the null hypothesis was 4.5 times greater than the hypothesized effect. Further, hierarchical regression revealed a positive relationship between bonding, daytime fatigue and depression symptoms only among women who were currently breastfeeding.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that among healthy mothers, breastfeeding may not be a central factor in mother-infant bonding, nor is it protective against the negative impact of mood symptoms and bonding difficulties. Theoretical and methodological bases of these findings are discussed.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12884-019-2264-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Discrepancies in maternal reports of infant sleep vs. actigraphy by mode of feeding

OBJECTIVES

Many studies of infant sleep rely solely on parentally-reported data, assuming that parents accurately report their infant's sleep parameters. The objective of this paper is to examine whether night-time sleep parameters of exclusively breastfed or exclusively formula-fed infants differ, and whether correspondence between parental reports and objective measures varies by feeding type.

METHODS

Mother-infant dyads intending to breastfeed or formula-feed exclusively for 18 weeks were recruited. Mothers were multiparas and primiparas, aged between 18 and 45 years. Infants were full-term, normal birthweight singletons. Maternal report and actigraphic data on infant sleep were collected fortnightly, from four to 18 weeks postpartum. Data were analysed cross-sectionally using t-tests and GLM analysis to control for interaction between feed-type and sleep location.

RESULTS

Actigraphy-assessed infant sleep parameters did not vary by feed-type but parentally reported sleep parameters did. Maternal report and actigraphy data diverged at 10 weeks postpartum and discrepancies were associated with infant feeding type. Compared to actigraphy, maternal reports by formula-feeding mothers (controlling for infant sleep location) over-estimated infant's Total Sleep Time (TST) at 10 weeks and Longest Sleep Period (LSP) at 10, 12 and 18 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

These results raise questions about the outcomes of previous infant sleep studies where accuracy of parentally-reported infant sleep data is assumed. That parental reports of infant sleep vary by feeding type is particularly important for reconsidering previous studies of infant sleep development and intervention studies designed to influence sleep outcomes, especially where feed-type was heterogeneous, but was not considered as an independent variable.

Babies in boxes and the missing links on safe sleep: Human evolution and cultural revolution

Concerns about bedsharing as a risk for sudden infant death syndrome and other forms of sleep-associated infant death have gained prominence as a public health issue. Cardboard "baby boxes" are increasingly promoted to prevent infant death through separate sleep, despite no proof of efficacy. However, baby boxes disrupt "breastsleeping" (breastfeeding with co-sleeping) and may undermine breastfeeding. Recommendations enforcing separate sleep are based on 20th century Euro-American social norms for solitary infant sleep and scheduled feedings via bottles of cow's milk-based formula, in contrast to breastsleeping, an evolutionary adaptation facilitating the survival of mammalian infants for millennia. Interventions that aim to prevent bedsharing, such as the cardboard baby box, fail to consider the implications of evolutionary biology or of ethnocentrism in sleep guidance. Moreover, the focus on bedsharing neglects more potent risks such as smoking, drugs, alcohol, formula feeding, and poverty. Distribution of baby boxes may divert resources and attention away from addressing these other risk factors and lead to a false sense of security wherein we overlook that sudden unexplained infant deaths also occur in solitary sleep environments. Recognizing breastsleeping as the evolutionary and cross-cultural norm entails re-evaluating our research and policy priorities, such as providing greater structural support for families, supporting breastfeeding and safe co-sleeping, investigating ways to safely minimize separation for formula-fed infants, and mitigating the potential harms of mother-infant separation when breastsleeping is disrupted. Resources would be better spent addressing such questions rather than on a feel-good solution such as the baby box.

Safe Sleep Infant Care Practices Reported by Mothers of Twins

BACKGROUND

The high prevalence of prematurity and low birth-weight places twin infants at increased risk for sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) and/or sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Risk for these SUID and SIDS is affected by a combination of nonmodifiable intrinsic risk factors and modifiable extrinsic stressors including infant care practices related to sleep. Although adherence to the full scope of American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 2011 recommendations is intended to decrease risk, these recommendations are aimed at singleton infants and may require tailoring for families with multiple infants.

PURPOSE

The study describes infant care practices reported by mothers of twins in the first 6 months postpartum.

METHODS

Mothers caring for twin infants (N = 35) were surveyed online both longitudinally (at 2, 8, 16, and 24 weeks after infant hospital discharge) and cross-sectionally. AAP recommendations (2011) guided survey content.

RESULTS

The degree of adherence to AAP recommendations varied over time. For example, mothers of twins reported 100% adherence to placing twins supine for sleep initially, but many reported putting babies on their stomachs for naps as twins became older. Sharing a parent's bedroom decreased over time as did frequency of crib sharing. Fewer than half of mothers offered a pacifier most or all of the time for sleep.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Opportunities exist for development of an educational program geared specifically for postpartum parents of twins.

IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH

Barriers affecting adherence to AAP recommendations and effectiveness of educational programs addressing needs of this unique population need further exploration.

Exploring Maternal Perceptions of Infant Sleep and Feeding Method Among Mothers in the United Kingdom: A Qualitative Focus Group Study

BACKGROUND

In a context with strong rhetorical support for breastfeeding in the health system, yet extremely low rates of breastfeeding after hospital discharge, U.K. women's decisions about infant feeding reflect the reality of competing priorities in their lives, including obtaining adequate sleep. Popular wisdom in the U.K. tightly links breastfeeding and inadequate night-time sleep. Mothers are advised by peers and family to introduce formula or solid foods to infants to promote longer sleep.

OBJECTIVES

The first objective of this study was to investigate women's understandings of the nature of infant sleep and their perceptions of links between infant feeding method and sleep. The second was to explore how these perceptions influence infant feeding and sleep practices. Underpinning our work is the understanding that infant care choices result from trade-offs by which mothers strive to balance infant- and self-care.

METHODS

We conducted seven focus groups with mothers of infants in two regions of the U.K. Verbatim transcripts were thematically coded and emergent themes were identified.

RESULTS

We found clearly diverging narratives between breastfeeding and formula-feeding mothers. Breastfeeding mothers viewed the fragmentary nature of infant sleep as natural, while mothers who were formula feeding felt this was a problem to be fixed.

CONCLUSIONS AND PRACTICE

The strategies used to promote infant and maternal sleep in each group were aligned with their underlying perception of how infant sleep works. Maternal perceptions of the nature of infant sleep and its relation to infant feeding method impact infant care practices in the first year of life.

Safe Sleep and Skin-to-Skin Care in the Neonatal Period for Healthy Term Newborns

Skin-to-skin care (SSC) and rooming-in have become common practice in the newborn period for healthy newborns with the implementation of maternity care practices that support breastfeeding as delineated in the World Health Organization's "Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding." SSC and rooming-in are supported by evidence that indicates that the implementation of these practices increases overall and exclusive breastfeeding, safer and healthier transitions, and improved maternal-infant bonding. In some cases, however, the practice of SSC and rooming-in may pose safety concerns, particularly with regard to sleep. There have been several recent case reports and case series of severe and sudden unexpected postnatal collapse in the neonatal period among otherwise healthy newborns and near fatal or fatal events related to sleep, suffocation, and falls from adult hospital beds. Although these are largely case reports, there are potential dangers of unobserved SSC immediately after birth and throughout the postpartum hospital period as well as with unobserved rooming-in for at-risk situations. Moreover, behaviors that are modeled in the hospital after birth, such as sleep position, are likely to influence sleeping practices after discharge. Hospitals and birthing centers have found it difficult to develop policies that will allow SSC and rooming-in to continue in a safe manner. This clinical report is intended for birthing centers and delivery hospitals caring for healthy newborns to assist in the establishment of appropriate SSC and safe sleep policies.

Factors Associated with Supplemental Formula Feeding of Breastfeeding Infants During Postpartum Hospital Stay

OBJECTIVE

To determine reasons potentially amenable to interventions that mothers choose to supplement breastfeeding with formula in the immediate postpartum period.

STUDY DESIGN

We distributed surveys to all mothers in the postpartum unit who delivered a live newborn on day of maternal discharge to assess feeding behaviors during their inpatient admission. We evaluated, when applicable, their reasons for supplementation and examined cultural and demographic information to uncover trends for formula use and potential areas for provider intervention.

RESULTS

Seven hundred twelve of 1,400 mothers responded, of which 478 (65%) reported supplementing breastfeeding with formula (BF+F). The most common reasons for formula supplementation were perception of inadequate milk supply (36.4%), desire for sleep (35.4%), and a plan to breast and bottle feed (35.2%). Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) was associated with primiparous status (OR 1.95; 95% CI 1.3-3.0), higher education level (OR 2.6; 95% CI 1.7-3.9), and having been breastfed as an infant (OR 1.54; 95% CI 1-2.37). Mothers who experienced skin-to-skin contact also had higher rates of EBF (29.5% versus 19.9%). Factors associated with exclusive formula feeding included single marital status, birth of mother in the United States, Catholic religion, multiparity, and cesarean delivery. Religious and cultural factors also played important roles in maternal feeding behaviors.

CONCLUSION

Clinicians can anticipate risk factors for formula use in mothers who plan to breastfeed and tailor counseling appropriately to increase EBF rates.

The Relationship between Constitution of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the First Trimester and Pregnancy Symptoms: A Longitudinal Observational Study

Objective. We report on the distribution of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) constitution in the first trimester and on the association between TCM constitution and maternal symptoms related to pregnancy. Methods. Participants were followed up until delivery to observe primary measures (gestational hypertension and gestational diabetes mellitus) and secondary measures (signs of miscarriage, miscarriage, nausea and vomiting, and sleepiness and defecation during pregnancy). Descriptive analysis, t-tests, chi-square tests, and logistic regression analysis were used in this study. Results. 61.8% of the participants had unbalanced constitutions. We did not find a significant association between the TCM constitution and gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, miscarriage, signs of miscarriage, and defecation during pregnancy. And we found that women with unbalanced constitutions in early pregnancy had a greater likelihood of severe nausea and vomiting and poor sleep during pregnancy in the logistic regression analysis. Conclusions. These results have implications for female health care providers and policy makers. Identification of TCM constitution may be helpful for understanding nausea and vomiting and poor sleepiness during pregnancy, especially in the condition that can not be explained by modern medical science, and be helpful for making program to improve these uncomfortable symptoms.

Infant sleep and feeding patterns are associated with maternal sleep, stress, and depressed mood in women with a history of major depressive disorder (MDD)

Our goal was to examine associations of infant sleep and feeding patterns with maternal sleep and mood among women at risk for postpartum depression. Participants were 30 women (age ± SD = 28.3 ± 5.1 years) with a history of MDD (but not in a mood episode at enrollment) who completed daily sleep diaries, wore wrist actigraphs to estimate sleep, and had their mood assessed with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D-17) during four separate weeks of the perinatal period (33 weeks pregnancy and weeks 2, 6, and 16 postpartum). They logged their infants' sleep and feeding behaviors daily and reported postnatal stress on the Childcare Stress Inventory (CSI) at week 16. Mothers' actigraphically estimated sleep showed associations with infant sleep and feeding patterns only at postpartum week 2. Shorter duration of the longest infant-sleep bout was associated with shorter maternal sleep duration (p = .02) and lower sleep efficiency (p = .04), and maternal sleep efficiency was negatively associated with the number of infant-sleep bouts (p = .008) and duration of infant feeding (p = .008). Neither infant sleep nor feeding was associated with maternal sleep at 6 or 16 weeks, but more disturbed infant sleep and more frequent feeding at 6 weeks were associated with higher HAM-D scores at 6 and 16 weeks and higher CSI scores. Sleep in the mother-infant dyad is most tightly linked in the early postpartum weeks, but mothers continue to experience disturbed sleep and infant sleep and feeding behaviors continue to be associated with mothers' depressive symptoms and stress ratings as long as 16 weeks postpartum. These data imply that interventions designed to improve maternal sleep and postpartum mood should include both mothers and infants because improving infant sleep alone is not likely to improve maternal sleep, and poor infant sleep is linked to postpartum depression and stress.

Effects of a single night of postpartum sleep on childless women's daytime functioning

STUDY OBJECTIVES

The maternal postpartum period is characterized by sleep fragmentation, which is associated with daytime impairment, mental health disturbances, and changes in melatonin patterns. In addition to sleep fragmentation, women undergo a complex set of physiological and environmental changes upon entering the postpartum period, confounding our understanding of effects of postpartum sleep disturbance. The primary study aim was to understand the basic impact of a single night of postpartum-like sleep fragmentation on sleep architecture, nocturnal melatonin levels, mood, daytime sleepiness, and neurobehavioral performance.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS

For one week prior to entry into the laboratory, eleven healthy nulliparous women kept a stable sleep-wake schedule (verified via actigraphy). Participants contributed three consecutive nights of laboratory overnight polysomnography: (1) a habituation/sleep disorder screening night; (2) a baseline night; and (3) a sleep fragmentation night, when participants were awakened three times for ~30min each. Self-reported sleep quality and mood (Profile of Mood States survey) both decreased significantly after sleep fragmentation compared to baseline measurements. Unexpectedly, daytime sleepiness (Multiple Sleep Latency Test) decreased significantly after sleep fragmentation. Experimental fragmentation had no significant effect on time spent in nocturnal sleep stages, urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin concentration, or psychomotor vigilance test performance. Participants continued to provide actigraphy data, and daily PVTs and self-reported sleep quality assessments at home for one week following sleep fragmentation; these assessments did not differ from baseline values.

CONCLUSIONS

While there were no changes in measured physiological components of a single night of postpartum-like experimental sleep fragmentation, there were decreases in self-reported measures of mood and sleep quality. Future research should examine the effects of multiple nights of modeling postpartum-like sleep fragmentation on objective measures of sleep and daytime functioning.

The Impact of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes on WHO-Recommended Breastfeeding Practices

Background:

Suboptimal breastfeeding results in 800 000 child deaths annually. There are multiple causes of suboptimal breastfeeding, including marketing of breast-milk substitutes.

Objectives:

To describe sales and marketing of breast-milk substitutes and their influence on World Health Organization-recommended breastfeeding behaviors, focusing on low- and middle-income countries.

Methods:

Literature review.

Results:

Global sales of breast-milk substitutes reached US$40 billion in 2013. Growth in sales exceeds 10% annually in many low- and middle-income countries, while it is close to stagnant in high-income countries. Breast-milk substitutes are marketed directly to consumers via mass media and print advertisements and indirectly via incentives, free supplies, and promotions to and through health workers and facilities, retailers, and policy makers. Internet marketing via company web sites and social media is on the rise. Marketing influences social norms by making formula use seem to be extensive, modern, and comparable to or better than breast milk. Clear evidence of a negative impact is found when breast-milk substitutes are provided for free in maternity facilities and when they are promoted by health workers and in the media. Influences through other channels are plausible, but rigorous studies are lacking. It was not possible with the data available to quantify the impact of marketing relative to other factors on suboptimal breastfeeding behaviors. Marketing remains widespread even in countries that have adopted the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes to restrict such activities.

Conclusion:

Adoption of stricter regulatory frameworks coupled with independent, quantitative monitoring and compliance enforcement are needed to counter the impacts of formula marketing globally.

Dispelling myths to support breastfeeding in women with postpartum depression

Increasing attention is being paid to the possible connection between infant feeding practices and postpartum depression. Nurses caring for women and their families in the postpartum period might wonder how to best support the breastfeeding relationship if a woman has a history of depression. Using evidence from the scientific literature, this article dispels some myths regarding breastfeeding and depression, and provides suggested dialogue nurses can use when counseling women about depression and breastfeeding.

Longitudinal change in sleep and daytime sleepiness in postpartum women

Sleep disruption strongly influences daytime functioning; resultant sleepiness is recognised as a contributing risk-factor for individuals performing critical and dangerous tasks. While the relationship between sleep and sleepiness has been heavily investigated in the vulnerable sub-populations of shift workers and patients with sleep disorders, postpartum women have been comparatively overlooked. Thirty-three healthy, postpartum women recorded every episode of sleep and wake each day during postpartum weeks 6, 12 and 18. Although repeated measures analysis revealed there was no significant difference in the amount of nocturnal sleep and frequency of night-time wakings, there was a significant reduction in sleep disruption, due to fewer minutes of wake after sleep onset. Subjective sleepiness was measured each day using the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale; at the two earlier time points this was significantly correlated with sleep quality but not to sleep quantity. Epworth Sleepiness Scores significantly reduced over time; however, during week 18 over 50% of participants were still experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Score ≥12). Results have implications for health care providers and policy makers. Health care providers designing interventions to address sleepiness in new mothers should take into account the dynamic changes to sleep and sleepiness during this initial postpartum period. Policy makers developing regulations for parental leave entitlements should take into consideration the high prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness experienced by new mothers, ensuring enough opportunity for daytime sleepiness to diminish to a manageable level prior to reengagement in the workforce.

Can insomnia in pregnancy predict postpartum depression? A longitudinal, population-based study

Background

Insomnia and depression are strongly interrelated. This study aimed to describe changes in sleep across childbirth, and to evaluate whether insomnia in pregnancy is a predictor of postpartum depression.

Methods

A longitudinal, population-based study was conducted among perinatal women giving birth at Akershus University Hospital, Norway. Women received questionnaires in weeks 17 and 32 of pregnancy and eight weeks postpartum. This paper presents data from 2,088 of 4,662 women with complete data for insomnia and depression in week 32 of pregnancy and eight weeks postpartum. Sleep times, wake-up times and average sleep durations were self-reported. The Bergen Insomnia Scale (BIS) was used to measure insomnia. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to measure depressive symptoms.

Results

After delivery, sleep duration was reduced by 49 minutes (to 6.5 hours), and mean sleep efficiency was reduced from 84% to 75%. However, self-reported insomnia scores (BIS) improved from 17.2 to 15.4, and the reported prevalence of insomnia decreased from 61.6% to 53.8%. High EPDS scores and anxiety in pregnancy, fear of delivery, previous depression, primiparity, and higher educational level were risk factors for both postpartum insomnia and depression. Insomnia did not predict postpartum depression in women with no prior history of depression, whereas women who recovered from depression had residual insomnia.

Limitations

Depression and insomnia were not verified by clinical interviews. Women with depressive symptoms were less likely to remain in the study.

Conclusions

Although women slept fewer hours at night after delivery compared to during late pregnancy, and reported more nights with nighttime awakenings, their self-reported insomnia scores improved, and the prevalence of insomnia according to the DSM-IV criteria decreased. Insomnia in pregnancy may be a marker for postpartum recurrence of depression among women with previous depression.

Nighttime breastfeeding behavior is associated with more nocturnal sleep among first-time mothers at one month postpartum

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To describe sleep duration and quality in the first month postpartum and compare the sleep of women who exclusively breastfed at night to those who used formula.

METHODS

We conducted a longitudinal study in a predominantly low-income and ethnically diverse sample of 120 first-time mothers. Both objective and subjective measures of sleep were obtained using actigraphy, diary, and self-report data. Measures were collected in the last month of pregnancy and at one month postpartum. Infant feeding diaries were used to group mothers by nighttime breastfeeding behavior.

RESULTS

Mothers who used at least some formula at night (n = 54) and those who breastfed exclusively (n = 66) had similar sleep patterns in late pregnancy. However, there was a significant group difference in nocturnal sleep at one month postpartum as measured by actigraphy. Total nighttime sleep was 386 ± 66 minutes for the exclusive breastfeeding group and 356 ± 67 minutes for the formula group. The groups did not differ with respect to daytime sleep, wake after sleep onset (sleep fragmentation), or subjective sleep disturbance at one month postpartum.

CONCLUSION

Women who breastfed exclusively averaged 30 minutes more nocturnal sleep than women who used formula at night, but measures of sleep fragmentation did not differ. New mothers should be encouraged to breastfeed exclusively since breastfeeding may promote sleep during postpartum recovery. Further research is needed to better understand how infant feeding method affects maternal sleep duration and fragmentation.

CITATION

Doan T; Gay CL; Kennedy HP; Newman J; Lee KA. Nighttime breastfeeding behavior is associated with more nocturnal sleep among first-time mothers at one month postpartum.

Poor sleep maintenance and subjective sleep quality are associated with postpartum maternal depression symptom severity

Women are at increased risk of developing mood disorders during the postpartum period, and poor postpartum sleep may be a modifiable risk factor for the development of depression. This longitudinal study investigated the relationship between sleep variables and postpartum depression symptoms using wrist actigraphy and self-report surveys. Twenty-five healthy primiparous women were recruited from their outpatient obstetricians' offices from July 2009 through March 2010. Subjects wore wrist actigraphs for 1 week during the third trimester of pregnancy and again during the 2nd, 6th, 10th, and 14th weeks postpartum while completing sleep logs and sleep surveys. Subjective assessments of mood were collected at the end of each actigraph week. Subjective sleep assessments were strongly predictive of depression severity scores as measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) across all weeks (p < 0.001). Actigraphic measures of sleep maintenance, such as sleep fragmentation, sleep efficiency, and wake time after sleep onset, were also significantly correlated with EPDS scores postpartum. However, there was no relationship between nocturnal sleep duration and EPDS scores. This study provides additional evidence that poor sleep maintenance as measured by wrist actigraphy, rather than lesser amounts of sleep, is associated with EPDS scores during the postpartum period and that subjective assessments of sleep may be more accurate predictors of postpartum depression symptoms than wrist actigraphy. It also supports the hypothesis that disrupted sleep may contribute to the development and extent of postpartum depression symptoms.

Maternal accounts of their breast-feeding intent and early challenges after caesarean childbirth

BACKGROUND

breast-feeding outcomes are often worse after caesarean section compared to vaginal childbirth.

OBJECTIVES

this study characterises mothers' breast-feeding intentions and their infant feeding experiences after caesarean childbirth.

METHODS

data are from 115 mothers on a postnatal unit in Northeast England during February 2006-March 2009. Interviews were conducted an average of 1.5 days (range 1-6 days) after the women underwent unscheduled or scheduled caesarean.

RESULTS

thematic analysis of the data suggested was mostly considered the 'right thing to do,' preferable, natural, and 'supposedly healthier,' but tiring and painful. Advantages of supplementation involved more satiated infants, feeding ease, and longer sleep bouts. The need for 'thinking about yourself' was part of caesarean recovery. Infrequent feeding was concerning but also enabled maternal rest. Other breast-feeding obstacles were maternal mobility limitations, positioning difficulties, and frustration at the need for assistance. Participants were confused about nocturnal infant wakings, leading many to determine that they had insufficient milk. Mothers were surprised that sub-clinically poor infant condition was common following caesarean section. Some breast-feeding difficulty stemmed from 'mucus' expulsion that had to occur before the infants could be 'interested' in feeding. Women who cited motivations for breast feeding that included benefit to themselves were more likely to exclusively breast feed on the postnatal unit after their caesareans than those who reported infant-only motivations.

CONCLUSIONS

for the majority of mothers, breast feeding after a caesarean is affected by interrelated and compounding difficulties. Provision of more relational breast-feeding information may enable families to better anticipate early feeding experiences after caesarean section childbirth.

Sleep and sleepiness among first-time postpartum parents: a field- and laboratory-based multimethod assessment

The study aim was to compare sleep, sleepiness, fatigue, and neurobehavioral performance among first-time mothers and fathers during their early postpartum period. Participants were 21 first-time postpartum mother-father dyads (N = 42) and seven childless control dyads (N = 14). Within their natural environment, participants completed 1 week of wrist actigraphy monitoring, along with multi-day self-administered sleepiness, fatigue, and neurobehavioral performance measures. The assessment week was followed by an objective laboratory-based test of sleepiness. Mothers obtained more sleep compared to fathers, but mothers' sleep was more disturbed by awakenings. Fathers had greater objectively measured sleepiness than mothers. Mothers and fathers did not differ on subjectively measured sleep quality, sleepiness, or fatigue; however, mothers had worse neurobehavioral performance than fathers. Compared to control dyads, postpartum parents experienced greater sleep disturbance, sleepiness, and sleepiness-associated impairments. Study results can inform social policy, postpartum sleep intervention development, and research on postpartum family systems and mechanisms that propagate sleepiness.

Breastfeeding and infant sleep patterns: an Australian population study

OBJECTIVE

Our purpose was to determine if babies breastfed at 6 months of age were more likely to wake at night and less likely to sleep alone than formula-fed babies.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Data were drawn from the first wave of The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, an ongoing, nationally representative study of the growth and development of Australia's children. The 4507 participants met the criteria for this study. The measures examined infant sleep problems as the outcome and breastfeeding at 6 months of age as the exposure in addition to the demographic data, maternal mental health, infant birthweight and gestational age at delivery.

RESULTS

After adjustment for covariates, reports by mothers of infants that breastfed at 6 months of age suggested infants were 66% more likely to wake during the night and 72% more likely to report difficulty sleeping alone. However, breastfeeding had a strongly protective effect on wheezing, coughing, snoring and breathing problems, and it was not associated with restless sleep or problems getting to sleep for the infant.

CONCLUSIONS

Breastfeeding was found to be associated with increased night waking and this is consistent with other studies. There are biological reasons why this might be required to ensure breastfeeding continues to 6 months and beyond. The current low rates of sustained breastfeeding in many Western countries needs to be reconsidered in relation to parental and public health practices promoting prolonged nocturnal infant sleep patterns.

Breastfeeding and short sleep duration in mothers and 6-11-month-old infants

This study examined breastfeeding and sleep in 77 dyads of mothers and infants 6-11 months old. Data revealed no significant difference in sleep patterns between breastfed and non-breastfed infants. Controlling for variables including breastfeeding status, only infant nighttime sleep duration was significant in predicting maternal short sleep duration.

Overcoming barriers to Baby-Friendly status: one hospital's experience

The journey toward Baby-Friendly status at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, NJ began with a desire to improve overall breastfeeding rates at the hospital. Although evidence showed that hospitals that incorporated some or all of the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding had improved breastfeeding rates, it was difficult to overcome barriers that prevented the hospital physicians and nursing staff from seeing the value in adopting this quality initiative. Long-standing practices combined with misinformation compounded the problem. That situation changed when several factors nationally and statewide came together to create a prime environment for implementation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative. This article will discuss the barriers that one hospital encountered and the strategies used to overcome these common barriers to achieving Baby-Friendly status. This hospital is not yet designated as Baby-Friendly but is awaiting the outcome of a site visit in 2012.