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Updated: Apr 4, 2026

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect
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Prenatal Anxiety and Infant Feeding Outcomes: A Systematic Review

Victoria Fallon1, Kate Mary Bennett2, Joanne Alison Harrold2

  • 1University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK vfallon@liverpool.ac.uk.

Journal of Human Lactation : Official Journal of International Lactation Consultant Association
|September 6, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Prenatal anxiety may impact infant feeding intentions and exclusivity, but evidence is limited. More research is needed to fully understand the effects of maternal anxiety on infant feeding practices.

Area of Science:

  • Maternal-fetal medicine
  • Developmental psychology
  • Public health nutrition

Background:

  • Prenatal anxiety is a significant concern impacting maternal and infant well-being.
  • Infant feeding practices are crucial for child development and health.
  • The specific link between maternal anxiety during pregnancy and infant feeding outcomes requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review and synthesize existing research on the relationship between prenatal anxiety and infant feeding outcomes.
  • To identify gaps in the current literature regarding this association.
  • To inform future research and clinical practice.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple electronic databases.
  • Hand searches of relevant journals and reference lists were performed to identify additional studies.
  • Studies were included if they reported on infant feeding outcomes and anxiety during pregnancy; data extraction and quality assessment were performed by two independent reviewers.

Main Results:

  • No significant associations were found between prenatal anxiety and breastfeeding initiation or overall breastfeeding quantity.
  • A negative relationship was observed between high levels of prenatal anxiety and both breastfeeding intention and breastfeeding exclusivity.
  • The review included only 6 eligible studies out of 99 identified, highlighting a limited evidence base.

Conclusions:

  • Current evidence is insufficient to definitively clarify the relationship between prenatal anxiety and infant feeding outcomes.
  • Limitations including small sample sizes, lack of statistical power, and heterogeneous measures hinder comparability of findings.
  • Further high-quality research is warranted to establish a clearer understanding of how prenatal anxiety influences infant feeding practices.

Keywords:
breastfeedingformula feedinginfant feedingpregnancyprenatal anxiety

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