Correlation between maternal eating disorder and early infant feeding regulation: a cross -sectional study

Rachel F Rodgers,Morgan Hines,Alaina Martens,Emily Zimmerman

doi:10.1186/s12884-021-04317-z

Rachel F Rodgers, Morgan Hines + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-04317-z

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Abstract

BackgroundThe post-partum period is a vulnerable time for mothers in terms of eating disorder symptoms and is critical for the establishment of feeding patterns in infants. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between maternal eating disorder symptoms and objective indices of feeding regulation at 3 months, as well as perceived breastfeeding self-efficacy.MethodsA sample of n = 73 full-term mother-child dyads (44% female) participated in the study. Mothers self-reported eating disorder symptoms and breastfeeding self-efficacy and objective indices of infant feeding regulation were obtained in the home.ResultsFindings revealed the existence of relationships between higher maternal eating disorder symptoms, and objective indices of infant feeding regulation with substantial gender differences in the patterns emerging. Among mother-daughter dyads, maternal weight and shape concerns were associated with higher infant transfer volume and rate during bottle feeding. In contrast, among mother-son dyads, higher maternal eating disorder symptoms, including weight, shape, and eating concern, were associated with lower infant transfer volume and rate as well as lower levels of proficiency while taking their bottle.ConclusionRelationships emerged between higher maternal eating disorder symptoms and feeding regulation with substantial gender differences in these patterns. Additional research clarifying the underlying mechanisms of these associations is warranted and further efforts should be directed towards supporting mothers during the postpartum period.

Highlights

The post-partum period is a vulnerable time for mothers in terms of eating disorder symptoms and is critical for the establishment of feeding patterns in infants
Data from a sample of n = 73 full-term primarily breastfeeding mother-child dyads (44% female), with an average birth weight of 3.44 kg (SD = .44), who were participating in a larger study were included
No differences were found on variables of interest between firstborns and infants with siblings

Summary

Introduction

The post-partum period is a vulnerable time for mothers in terms of eating disorder symptoms and is critical for the establishment of feeding patterns in infants. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between maternal eating disorder symptoms and objective indices of feeding regulation at 3 months, as well as perceived breastfeeding self-efficacy. The small amount of research that has been conducted among young infants during the first months postpartum has focused exclusively on food refusal as an outcome and has relied mainly on self-report or visual observational data for the feeding assessment [6, 8, 9]. The reliance on such methodologies limits the investigation of these mechanisms. One observational longitudinal study suggested that sucking patterns in infancy predicted child pickiness between the ages of 3 and 5 years [4], highlighting the need for more work in this area

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