eprintid: 10159972
rev_number: 15
eprint_status: archive
userid: 699
dir: disk0/10/15/99/72
datestamp: 2022-11-22 06:56:40
lastmod: 2023-04-26 09:17:04
status_changed: 2023-04-26 09:17:04
type: article
metadata_visibility: show
sword_depositor: 699
creators_name: Dib, Sarah
creators_name: Wells, J
creators_name: Eaton, Simon
creators_name: Fewtrell, M
title: A breastfeeding relaxation intervention promotes growth in late preterm and early term infants: results from a randomized controlled trial
ispublished: pub
divisions: UCL
divisions: B02
divisions: D13
divisions: G22
divisions: G25
keywords: preterm; breastfeeding; maternal stress; growth; parent-offspring signaling; late preterm; early term; breast milk composition; relaxation
note: © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
abstract: Breastfeeding involves signaling between mother and offspring through biological (breast milk) and behavioral pathways. This study tested this by examining the effects of a relaxation intervention in an understudied infant population. Breastfeeding mothers of late preterm (340/7–366/7 weeks) and early term (370/7–386/7 weeks) infants were randomized to the relaxation group (RG, n = 35), where they were asked to listen to a meditation recording while breastfeeding from 3 weeks post-delivery, or the control group (CG, n = 37) where no intervention was given. Primary outcomes-maternal stress and infant weight-were assessed at 2–3 (baseline) and 6–8 weeks post-delivery. Secondary outcomes included infant length, infant behavior, maternal verbal memory, salivary cortisol, and breast milk composition. Infants in the RG had significantly higher change in weight-for-age Z-score compared to those in CG (effect size: 0.4; 95% CI: 0.09, 0.71; p = 0.01), and shorter crying duration [RG: 5.0 min, 0.0–120.0 vs. CG: 30.0 min, 0.0–142.0; p = 0.03]. RG mothers had greater reduction in cortisol (effect size: −0.08 ug/dL, 95% CI −0.15, −0.01; p = 0.03) and better maternal verbal learning score (effect size: 1.1 words, 95% CI 0.04, 2.1; p = 0.04) than CG mothers, but did not differ in stress scores. A simple relaxation intervention during breastfeeding could be beneficial in promoting growth of late preterm and early term infants. Further investigation of other potential biological and behavioral mediators is warranted.
date: 2022-11-27
date_type: published
publisher: MDPI AG
official_url: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14235041
oa_status: green
full_text_type: pub
language: eng
primo: open
primo_central: open_green
verified: verified_manual
elements_id: 1989370
doi: 10.3390/nu14235041
lyricists_name: Eaton, Simon
lyricists_name: Wells, Jonathan
lyricists_id: SEATO65
lyricists_id: JWELL04
actors_name: Eaton, Simon
actors_id: SEATO65
actors_role: owner
full_text_status: public
publication: Nutrients
volume: 14
number: 23
article_number: 5041
citation:        Dib, Sarah;    Wells, J;    Eaton, Simon;    Fewtrell, M;      (2022)    A breastfeeding relaxation intervention promotes growth in late preterm and early term infants: results from a randomized controlled trial.                   Nutrients , 14  (23)    , Article 5041.  10.3390/nu14235041 <https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14235041>.       Green open access   
 
document_url: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10159972/1/Eaton_nutrients-14-05041-v3.pdf