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Maternal weight status and responsiveness to preterm infant behavioral cues during feeding
Evanthia A Arianas1, Kristin M Rankin2, Kathleen F Norr3
1Department of Women, Children and Family Health Science, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Nursing, (MC 802) 845 South Damen Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60612-7350, USA. earian2@uic.edu.
Insights
Obese mothers responded better to infant distress but were more likely to stop feeding when preterm infants showed satiation cues. This highlights the need for educating mothers on recognizing infant feeding cues.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Maternal health
- Childhood obesity prevention
Background:
- Parental obesity is a strong predictor of childhood obesity.
- Preterm infants face an elevated risk for developing obesity.
- Limited understanding exists regarding maternal weight status and responsiveness to preterm infant feeding cues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between maternal weight status (obese vs. non-obese) and responsiveness to preterm infant behavioral cues during feeding.
- To investigate differences in maternal feeding interactions based on maternal weight at 6-weeks corrected age.
Main Methods:
- Secondary analysis of data from a randomized clinical trial.
- Maternal weight status was categorized during a play session.
- Mother-infant feeding interactions were assessed using the Nursing Child Assessment Satellite Training (NCAST) Feeding Scale.
- Multivariate regression analyses were employed to evaluate NCAST scores and specific feeding behaviors.
Main Results:
- Obese mothers (40.3%) showed higher scores in responding to infant distress compared to overweight/normal weight mothers (p=0.01).
- Infant satiation cue presentation did not vary by maternal weight.
- Obese mothers were significantly more likely to terminate feeding upon infant satiation cues (82.1% vs. 66.3%, adjusted OR=2.31).
Conclusions:
- Maternal weight status may influence feeding responsiveness to preterm infants.
- Further research is warranted on maternal weight and responsiveness to infant satiation cues.
- Educating mothers of preterm infants on recognizing infant feeding cues is crucial for optimal infant development.
Background:
Parental obesity is highly predictive of child obesity, and preterm infants are at greater risk of obesity, but little is known about obese and non-obese mothers' responsiveness to preterm infant cues during feeding. The relationship between maternal weight status and response to preterm infant behavioral cues during feeding at 6-weeks corrected age was examined.
Methods:
This secondary analysis used data from a randomized clinical trial. Maternal weight was coded during a play session. Mother-infant interaction during feeding was coded using the Nursing Child Assessment Satellite Training Feeding Scale (NCAST). We used multivariate linear regressions to examine NCAST scores and multivariate logistic regressions for the two individual items, satiation cues and termination of feeding.
Results:
Of the 139 mothers, 56 (40.3%) were obese, two underweight women were excluded. Obese mothers did not differ from overweight/normal weight mothers for overall NCAST scores, but they had higher scores on response to infant's distress subscale (mean = 10.2 vs. 9.6, p = 0.01). The proportion of infants who exhibited satiation cues did not differ by maternal weight. Obese mothers were more likely than overweight/normal weight mothers to terminate the feeding when the infant showed satiation cues (82.1% vs. 66.3%, p = 0.04, adjusted OR = 2.31, 95% CI = 0.97, 5.48).
Conclusions:
Limitations include lack of BMI measures and small sample size. Additional research is needed about maternal weight status and whether it influences responsiveness to preterm infant satiation cues. Results highlight the need for educating all mothers of preterm infants regarding preterm infant cues.
Trial Registration:
NCT02041923 . Feeding and Transition to Home for Preterms at Social Risk (H-HOPE). Registered 15 January 2014.