Madalynn Neu1, Zhaoxing Pan2, Ashley Haight3, Karen Fehringer4, Katrina Maluf5. 1. 1 College of Nursing, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, CO, USA. 2. 2 Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, CO, USA. 3. 3 School of Physical Therapy, University of Colorado, CO, USA. 4. 4 Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, CO, USA. 5. 5 School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University, CA, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Difficult breastfeeding in the first weeks after birth may result in muscle tension in infants and activation of the maternal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and sympathetic nervous system (SNS). Our primary objective was to examine the feasibility of collecting neuroendocrine markers of maternal HPA axis and SNS activation (salivary cortisol and α-amylase [sAA]) and electromyographic (EMG) markers of infant distress during feeding in the first 2 weeks after birth. We also examined the relationships of these indices to each other and to mother-infant interactive behaviors during feeding. METHODS: We recruited mothers in the postpartum unit of a teaching hospital and observed a feeding in the dyad's home. Cortisol and sAA were sampled before feeding, 10 min into feeding, at feeding end, and 20 min after feeding. Infant muscle activity was recorded continuously with an EMG data logger. We used the Nursing Child Assessment Feeding Scale to measure mother-infant interaction. RESULTS: The 20 mothers reported no disruption to breastfeeding and no change in infant behavior due to collection measures. Mean cortisol levels decreased significantly; there was no significant change in sAA levels. Relationships were found between interactive behavior and trends in neuroendocrine biomarkers. Longer bursts of infant muscle activity were associated with higher levels of maternal cortisol during feeding but not mother-infant interactive behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal salivary biomarkers and their association with feeding behaviors can be a useful tool for clinical longitudinal research beginning soon after birth. Infant EMG data may be useful for assessing maternal arousal.
OBJECTIVES: Difficult breastfeeding in the first weeks after birth may result in muscle tension in infants and activation of the maternal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and sympathetic nervous system (SNS). Our primary objective was to examine the feasibility of collecting neuroendocrine markers of maternal HPA axis and SNS activation (salivary cortisol and α-amylase [sAA]) and electromyographic (EMG) markers of infant distress during feeding in the first 2 weeks after birth. We also examined the relationships of these indices to each other and to mother-infant interactive behaviors during feeding. METHODS: We recruited mothers in the postpartum unit of a teaching hospital and observed a feeding in the dyad's home. Cortisol and sAA were sampled before feeding, 10 min into feeding, at feeding end, and 20 min after feeding. Infant muscle activity was recorded continuously with an EMG data logger. We used the Nursing Child Assessment Feeding Scale to measure mother-infant interaction. RESULTS: The 20 mothers reported no disruption to breastfeeding and no change in infant behavior due to collection measures. Mean cortisol levels decreased significantly; there was no significant change in sAA levels. Relationships were found between interactive behavior and trends in neuroendocrine biomarkers. Longer bursts of infant muscle activity were associated with higher levels of maternal cortisol during feeding but not mother-infant interactive behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal salivary biomarkers and their association with feeding behaviors can be a useful tool for clinical longitudinal research beginning soon after birth. Infant EMG data may be useful for assessing maternal arousal.
Authors: Anna L MacKinnon; Ian Gold; Nancy Feeley; Barbara Hayton; C Sue Carter; Phyllis Zelkowitz Journal: Psychoneuroendocrinology Date: 2014-06-16 Impact factor: 4.905
Authors: Stephen C Gammie; Terri M Driessen; Changjiu Zhao; Michael C Saul; Brian E Eisinger Journal: Front Neuroendocrinol Date: 2016-05-13 Impact factor: 8.606