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Published on: June 13, 2021
Predictors of crying problems in the early postpartum period
Elisabeth Kurth1, Elisabeth Spichiger, Eva Cignacco
1University of Basel, Institute of Nursing Science, 4056 Basel, Switzerland. elisabeth.kurth@unibas.ch
Summary
Maternal health and mood issues, immigrant status, and early return to work are linked to infant crying problems. Higher parity may offer protection against these issues.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal health
- Infant behavior
- Maternal mental health
Background:
- Infant crying is a common concern in the early postpartum period.
- Understanding associated factors is crucial for effective support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify maternal and infant factors linked to midwife-reported infant crying problems.
- To inform strategies for preventing and managing these issues.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study was conducted using data from postnatal home care in Switzerland.
- Seven thousand seven hundred and sixty-five mother/child dyads were analyzed, with 1,636 cases of crying problems.
- Conditional logistic regression analyzed associations with maternal and infant factors.
Main Results:
- Maternal health and mood problems (physical complications, psychological decompensation, depression) were significantly associated with crying problems.
- Planned early return to paid work and immigrant status were identified as risk factors.
- Higher parity demonstrated a protective effect.
Conclusions:
- Early postpartum infant crying problems are associated with maternal physical, psychological, and social conditions.
- Promoting maternal recovery and providing targeted support are key prevention strategies.
- Support is vital for mothers experiencing depression, planning early return to work, with immigrant backgrounds, or who are first-time mothers.
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