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Volkert A, Bach L, Hagenbeck C, Kössendrup J, Oberröhrmann C, Okumu MR, Scholten N. Obstetric interventions' effects on the birthing experience. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2024; 24:508. [PMID: 39068395 PMCID: PMC11283698 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-024-06626-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The birth experience plays a pivotal role in the mother´s mental well-being and has a crucial effect on the mother-child bond. Unanticipated medical interventions, including fundal pressure, episiotomy, assisted vaginal delivery (AVD), or unplanned cesarean section (CS) during labor, may adversely affect the birth experience. The objective of this study is to identify factors contributing to the diminished evaluation of the birth experience after assessing the prevalence of unplanned obstetrical interventions in Germany. METHODS For this cross-sectional analysis, 4000 mothers whose children were born 8 or 12 months before were asked about their birth experience via a paper-based questionnaire. Overall 1102 mothers participated in the study, representing a response rate of 27.6%. The revised Childbirth Experience Questionnaire (CEQ2) was used to measure the childbirth experience. In addition to descriptive and bivariate analyses using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test and Kruskal-Wallis-test, we calculated multivariate linear regression models for each dimension of the CEQ2. RESULTS In general, the participants evaluated their childbirth experience favorably, assigning an average rating of 3.09 on a scale ranging from 1 to 4. Women who experienced fundal pressure, an AVD, or an unplanned CS rated their birth experience significantly worse compared to women who gave birth without interventions. Unplanned CSs received the lowest ratings for "personal capability" and "perceived safety," and an AVD resulted in lower scores for "professional support" and "participation." However, the interventions we studied did not account for much of the variation in how the childbirth experience plays out for different individuals. CONCLUSION Obstetric interventions have a significant effect on different dimensions of the birth experience. If a high level of birth satisfaction is to be achieved, it is important to know which dimension of satisfaction is affected by the intervention so that explicit measures, like fostering communication, participation or safety can be taken to promote improvement. GERMAN CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTER DRKS00029214, retrospectively registered (Registration Date 22.06.2023).
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Volkert
- Chair of Health Services Research, Institute of Medical Sociology, Health Services Research and Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Lisa Bach
- Chair of Health Services Research, Institute of Medical Sociology, Health Services Research and Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Carsten Hagenbeck
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Jan Kössendrup
- Chair of Health Services Research, Institute of Medical Sociology, Health Services Research and Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Charlotte Oberröhrmann
- Chair of Health Services Research, Institute of Medical Sociology, Health Services Research and Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Mi-Ran Okumu
- Chair of Health Services Research, Institute of Medical Sociology, Health Services Research and Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Nadine Scholten
- Chair of Health Services Research, Institute of Medical Sociology, Health Services Research and Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Health Communication and Health Services Research, Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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Koyama Y, Nawa N, Ochi M, Surkan PJ, Fujiwara T. Joint Roles of Oxytocin- and Dopamine-Related Genes and Childhood Parenting Experience in Maternal Supportive Social Network. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2024; 55:614-621. [PMID: 36098825 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-022-01434-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
How genes and parenting determine maternal social support availability, an important preventive factor of postpartum depression, has been little studied. Our study aimed to examine the interaction effects of maternal sociality-related gene and parenting on maternal social support. We analyzed data of 115 triads of Japanese grandmothers, mothers, and their infants. An interaction between parenting and cumulative genetic risk, calculated on the sociality-related genes (OXTR rs53576, rs2254298, rs1042778; COMT rs4680), was found. Mothers with high genetic risk received less social support if received poorer parenting (B = - 0.02, 95%CI = - 0.04 to - 0.01), while no association among low-risk mothers. Poorer social support was associated with severer depression in high-risk mothers (B = - 0.88, 95%CI = - 1.45 to -0.30). Our results suggest that mothers carrying risk alleles of sociality-related genes are particularly sensitive to childhood parenting, underscoring the importance of childhood parenting and genetic risk to understand maternal help-seeking behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuna Koyama
- Department of Global Health Promotion, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, 113-8510, Japan
| | - Nobutoshi Nawa
- Department of Medical Education Research and Development, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, 113-8510, Japan
| | - Manami Ochi
- Department of Global Health Promotion, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, 113-8510, Japan
- Department of Social Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, 157-8535, Japan
- Department of Health and Welfare Services, National Institute of Public Health, Saitama, 351-0197, Japan
| | - Pamela J Surkan
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Takeo Fujiwara
- Department of Global Health Promotion, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, 113-8510, Japan.
- Department of Social Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, 157-8535, Japan.
- Department of Global Health Promotion, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8510, Japan.
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Firk C, Großheinrich N. Infant carrying: Associations with parental reflective functioning, parental bonding and parental responses to infant crying. Infant Ment Health J 2024; 45:263-275. [PMID: 38288564 DOI: 10.1002/imhj.22106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Infant carrying may have beneficial effects on the parent-infant relationship but only limited research has been conducted in this area. Therefore, the main aim of the current study was to investigate whether infant carrying is associated with parental reflective functioning, parental bonding, and parental (emotional) and behavioral responses to infant crying, key elements within the parent-infant relationship, promoting infant development. Parents reporting high levels (N = 389) of infant carrying (six times a week or daily) and parents reporting low levels (N = 128) of infant carrying (less than once a week or not at all) who participated in an online survey about the developing parent-infant relationship in Germany were included in the present study. Standardized questionnaires were used to assess parental reflective functioning, parental bonding impairments, and emotional responses to infant crying. Further insensitive (non-responsive and hostile) behaviors in response to infant crying were assessed. Parents with high levels of infant carrying showed better parental reflective functioning, lower parental bonding problems, less negative emotions, and less insensitive behaviors in response to infant crying.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Firk
- Department of Social Sciences, Catholic University of Applied Sciences of North Rhine-Eestphalia, Aachen, Germany
- Institute of Health Research and Social Psychiatry, Catholic University of Applied Sciences of North Rhine-Westphalia, Aachen, Germany
| | - Nicola Großheinrich
- Institute of Health Research and Social Psychiatry, Catholic University of Applied Sciences of North Rhine-Westphalia, Aachen, Germany
- Department of Social Sciences, Catholic University of Applied Sciences of North Rhine-Eestphalia, Cologne, Germany
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Grundström H, Malmquist A, Nieminen K. Factors related to a positive childbirth experience - a cross-sectional study. J Reprod Infant Psychol 2024:1-13. [PMID: 38597181 DOI: 10.1080/02646838.2024.2336141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Giving birth is a life-changing experience for women. Most previous studies have focused on risk factors for a negative childbirth experience. The primary aim of this study was to assess childbirth experience in a sample of postnatal Swedish women. The secondary aim was to analyse demographic and clinical determinants associated with a positive birth experience. DESIGN/METHODS A digital survey including the instrument Childbirth Experience Questionnaire 2 (CEQ2) was answered by 619 women six to 16 weeks postpartum. Regression analyses were made assessing the impact that different factors had on the overall childbirth experience and the four subscales of CEQ2: Own Capacity, Perceived Safety, Professional Support and Participation. RESULTS Overall, women were satisified with their birthing experience. Several factors contributed to a positive childbirth experience. Having a vaginal mode of birth (without vacuum extraction) together with not having ongoing mental health problems were the factors with the most influence on the total childbirth experience. Not having maternal complications postpartum and receiving much support from a trusted birth companion were two other important factors. CONCLUSION Although Swedish women tend to express satisfaction with their childbirth experiences, there is a necessity to advocate for a childbirth approach that optimises the chance of giving birth vaginally rather than with vacuum extraction or acute caesarean section, and reduces the risk for complications whenever possible. During pregnancy, mental health problems should be appropriately addressed. Healthcare professionals could also more actively involve the birth companion in the birthing process and equip them with the necessary tools to effectively support birthing women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Grundström
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Norrköping, and Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Anna Malmquist
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Katri Nieminen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Norrköping, and Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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Shebelsky R, Sadi W, Heesen P, Aber RN, Fein S, Iluz-Freundlich D, Shmueli A, Azem K, Radyan Tamayev I, Binyamin Y, Orbach-Zinger S. The relationship between postpartum pain and mother-infant bonding: A prospective observational study. Anaesth Crit Care Pain Med 2024; 43:101315. [PMID: 37865216 DOI: 10.1016/j.accpm.2023.101315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Postpartum pain is associated with impaired maternal recovery and may influence mother-infant bonding. METHODS Participants who underwent a vaginal or cesarean delivery were assessed 24 h postpartum. Postpartum pain intensity was measured using the Verbal Numeric Score (VNS) (0-10) and classified as non-severe (<8) or severe pain (≥8). Maternal-infant bonding was evaluated using the Post-Partum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ; 0-125), with a score > 5 defining impaired bonding. Demographic data included age, BMI, parity, education level, economic status, partnership, prior history of depression, familial history of depression, desire to breastfeed, epidural analgesia during labor, rooming in, and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Data were analyzed using 2 separate multivariable logistic regression models for vaginal and cesarean deliveries, where maximum postpartum pain was the independent variable and impaired postpartum bonding was the dependent variable and controlled for the other factors collected. RESULTS Severe postpartum pain (VNS ≥ 8) showed no significant relationship with impaired bonding when controlling for confounding variables. In vaginal deliveries, there was an association between a history of depression and impaired bonding (Odds Ratio 2.2 [1.07-4.65], p = 0.04) and EPDS > 10 and impaired bonding (OR 11.5 [3.2-73.6], p < 0.001). For cesarean deliveries, rooming in with the baby had a protective effect (OR 11.5 [3.2-73.6], p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Contrary to expectations, severe postpartum pain did not influence maternal-infant binding in the cohort of patients with vaginal and cesarean deliveries. Instead, factors such as maternal mental health and rooming-in practices appeared to exert more significant influence. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT05206552.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rostislav Shebelsky
- Department, Department of Anaesthesia, Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikvah, and Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Wadeea Sadi
- Department, Department of Anaesthesia, Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikvah, and Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | | | - Rachel N Aber
- Tel Aviv University Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Shai Fein
- Department, Department of Anaesthesia, Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikvah, and Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Daniel Iluz-Freundlich
- Department, Department of Anaesthesia, Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikvah, and Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Anat Shmueli
- Department, Department of Anaesthesia, Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikvah, and Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Karam Azem
- Department, Department of Anaesthesia, Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikvah, and Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Inbar Radyan Tamayev
- Department, Department of Anaesthesia, Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikvah, and Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Yair Binyamin
- Department of Anesthesiology, Soroka University Medical Center and the Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
| | - Sharon Orbach-Zinger
- Department, Department of Anaesthesia, Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikvah, and Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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Toor R, Wiese M, Croicu C, Bhat A. Postpartum Psychosis: A Preventable Psychiatric Emergency. FOCUS (AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC PUBLISHING) 2024; 22:44-52. [PMID: 38694156 PMCID: PMC11058913 DOI: 10.1176/appi.focus.20230025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
Postpartum psychosis is the most severe psychiatric disorder associated with childbirth. Although rare, it is considered a psychiatric emergency that warrants immediate medical attention and inpatient care to ensure safety, complete diagnostic evaluation, and treatment initiation. This article describes the phenomenology of postpartum psychosis, clinical evaluation, treatment guidelines, and prevention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramanpreet Toor
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle
| | - Michelle Wiese
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle
| | - Carmen Croicu
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle
| | - Amritha Bhat
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle
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Ray JK, Stürmlinger LL, von Krause M, Lux U, Zietlow AL. Disentangling the trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms and partnership problems in the transition to parenthood and their impact on child adjustment difficulties. Dev Psychopathol 2023:1-16. [PMID: 37974466 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579423001335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Maternal perinatal depression (PND) and partnership problems have been identified to influence the development of later child adjustment difficulties. However, PND and partnership problems are closely linked which makes it difficult to draw conclusions about the exact transmission pathways. The aim of the present study was to investigate to what extent PND symptoms and partnership problems influence each other longitudinally and to examine the influence of their trajectories on child adjustment difficulties at the age of three. Analyses were based on publicly available data from the German family panel "pairfam". N = 354 mothers were surveyed on depressive symptoms and partnership problems annually from pregnancy (T0) until child age three (T4). Child adjustment difficulties were assessed at age three. Results of latent change score modeling showed that partnership problems predicted change in PND symptoms at T0 and T3 while PND symptoms did not predict change in partnership problems. Child adjustment difficulties at age three were predicted by PND symptoms, but not by partnership problems. Partnership problems predicted externalizing, but not internalizing symptoms. Results underline the effects of family factors for the development of child adjustment difficulties and emphasize the importance of early interventions from pregnancy onwards.
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Affiliation(s)
- J K Ray
- Faculty of Psychology, Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - L L Stürmlinger
- Faculty of Psychology, Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, University of Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - M von Krause
- Faculty of Behavioral and Cultural Studies, Institute of Psychology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - U Lux
- Department Family and Family Policies, German Youth Institute (DJI), Munich, Germany
- Department of Psychology and Pedagogy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | - A-L Zietlow
- Faculty of Psychology, Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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Sim CSM, Chen H, Chong SL, Xia OJ, Chew E, Guo X, Ng LP, Ch'ng YC, Ong JLH, Tan J, Ng DCC, Tan NC, Chan YH. Primary health level screening for postpartum depression during well-child visits: Prevalence, associated risk factors, and breastfeeding. Asian J Psychiatr 2023; 87:103701. [PMID: 37517174 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2023.103701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a public health problem that is associated with detrimental effects on the wellbeing of the mother, child and family. Early detection for PPD at the primary health level provides an opportunity for intervention. We aim to examine: (1) the prevalence rate of PPD in the primary care population, (2) acceptance and attendance rates of intervention for women who screened positive for PPD, (3) sociodemographic and maternal risk factors of PPD, and (4) the impact of PPD on breastfeeding. We implemented a mother-child dyadic screening program using the modified Patient Health Questionnaire-2 during routine well-child visits at 2 or 3 months postpartum between July 2019 and December 2021. We performed multivariable logistic regression to identify independent risk factors for PPD and described using adjusted odds ratio (OR) with corresponding 95 % confidence intervals. Among 5561 mothers, the prevalence rate of probable PPD was 2.4 %. About half (54.4 %) of mothers who screened positive accepted intervention and of these, about two-thirds accepted onward referrals to tertiary care and community mental health service, with higher attendance at the latter. In the final adjusted model, mothers who had probable PPD were more likely to be older than age 35 years (OR 1.88, 95 % CI 1.05-3.45; p < 0.05) and not breastfeeding (OR 1.9, 95 % CI 1.06-3.38; p < 0.05). Overall, our findings highlight the importance of early PPD screening and management in primary care. These findings can help inform maternal mental health service development and utilization, thereby optimizing maternal and infant outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cherie Sze Min Sim
- Department of Psychological Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore
| | - Helen Chen
- Department of Psychological Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore; SingHeatlth-Duke NUS Paediatric Medicine Academic Clinical Programme, Singapore.
| | - Shu-Ling Chong
- SingHeatlth-Duke NUS Paediatric Medicine Academic Clinical Programme, Singapore; Paediatric Emergency Medicine Department, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore
| | | | - Elaine Chew
- SingHeatlth-Duke NUS Paediatric Medicine Academic Clinical Programme, Singapore; Adolescent Medicine Service, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore
| | - Xiaoxuan Guo
- SingHealth Polyclinics, Singapore; SingHealth-Duke NUS Family Medicine Academic Clinical Programme, Singapore
| | - Lai Peng Ng
- SingHealth Polyclinics, Singapore; SingHealth-Duke NUS Family Medicine Academic Clinical Programme, Singapore
| | - Ying Chia Ch'ng
- Department of Psychological Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore
| | | | | | - David Chee Chin Ng
- SingHealth Polyclinics, Singapore; SingHealth-Duke NUS Family Medicine Academic Clinical Programme, Singapore
| | - Ngiap Chuan Tan
- SingHealth Polyclinics, Singapore; SingHealth-Duke NUS Family Medicine Academic Clinical Programme, Singapore
| | - Yoke Hwee Chan
- SingHeatlth-Duke NUS Paediatric Medicine Academic Clinical Programme, Singapore; Division of Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore
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Benton M, Davies M, Ismail K, Lenzi J. Gestational diabetes mellitus and its impact on the mother-infant relationship: A cohort study in the postnatal period. Prev Med Rep 2023; 34:102270. [PMID: 37334211 PMCID: PMC10272488 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are at increased risk of poor perinatal mental health outcomes. However, the association between GDM and the mother-infant relationship is unclear. This study aimed to examine whether GDM itself impacts the mother-infant relationship and maternal mental health using a cohort study design. We used data from the Cohort of Newborns in Emilia-Romagna (CoNER) study, which included 642 women recruited in Bologna, Italy. Psychological data were collected at 6 and 15 months postnatally using a purpose designed measure to examine the mother-infant relationship. We used linear fixed effects and mixed-effects models to assess the effect of GDM on relationship scores at 6 and 15 months postpartum. Women with GDM had significantly lower relationship scores at 15 months postpartum [β - 1.75 95% CrI (-3.31; -0.21)] but not at 6 months [β - 0.27 95% CrI (-1.37; 0.81)]. Mother-infant relationship scores were significantly lower overall at 15 months compared to 6 months postpartum [β - 0.29 95% CrI (-0.56; -0.02)]. Our findings suggest that there may be a delayed effect on the mother-infant relationship in response to the experience of GDM. Future research using large birth cohorts should investigate this further to confirm these findings, and whether women with GDM would benefit from early interventions to improve relationships taking into account length of time postpartum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine Benton
- Department of Psychological Medicine, King’s College London, United Kingdom
| | - Megan Davies
- Section of Epidemiology, University Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Khalida Ismail
- Department of Psychological Medicine, King’s College London, United Kingdom
| | - Jacopo Lenzi
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy
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