Relative effects of breastfeeding intention and practice on maternal responsiveness.

Jonathan Evans,Catherine L. Jones,Iryna Culpin,Rebecca M. Pearson

doi:10.1002/imhj.21832

Jonathan Evans, Catherine L. Jones + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1002/imhj.21832

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Abstract

ABSTRACTOur objective was to examine the differential effects of antenatal breastfeeding intention (BI) and breastfeeding practice (BP) on maternal postnatal responsiveness. We conducted a secondary analysis of longitudinal data from a subsample of 962 mother–infant dyads from a U.K.‐based birth cohort study the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Exposures were BI and BPs measured at 32 weeks of gestation and 18 months’ postpartum. The outcome was maternal responsiveness assessed at 12 months’ postpartum. We used logistic regression analyses unadjusted and adjusted for confounders. Intention to breastfeed was associated with increased odds of postnatal maternal responsiveness independent of BP, adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 2.34, 95% CI [1.42, 3.86]. There was no evidence that BP was an independent predictor of maternal responsiveness, OR = 0.93, 95% CI [0.55, 1.57]. Life‐course epidemiology analyses demonstrated that maternal responsiveness is most positive when both BI and BP are present. This is the first population‐based study to provide evidence that BI during pregnancy is more strongly associated with maternal postnatal responsiveness than is BP. Further research is needed to understand the determinants of BI in pregnancy and its relationships with maternal responsiveness.

Highlights

Sensitivity is one of the key constructs of attachment theory (Bowlby, 1969; Shin, Park, Ryu, & Seomun, 2008). Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, & Wall (1987) defined maternal sensitivity as a mother’s ability to perceive and interpret accurately her infant’s signals and communications and respond appropriately
There was no evidence of an independent effect of breastfeeding practice (BP) on maternal responsiveness once breastfeeding intention (BI) was accounted for, suggesting that BI explained a larger proportion of the variance in maternal responsiveness
We found that BP alone is not sufficient to increase maternal responsiveness and may only be beneficial when there is a prior intention to breastfeed

Summary

Introduction

Sensitivity is one of the key constructs of attachment theory (Bowlby, 1969; Shin, Park, Ryu, & Seomun, 2008). Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, & Wall (1987) defined maternal sensitivity as a mother’s ability to perceive and interpret accurately her infant’s signals and communications and respond appropriately. Empirical research has identified sensitivity as an important, but not exclusive, predictor of secure infant attachment (Bigelow et al, 2010; De. Wolff & van IJzendoorn, 1997). Evidence has suggested that maternal responsiveness is associated with the later emotional, cognitive, and physical development of the infant (De Wolff & van IJzendoorn, 1997; Murray, Fiori-Cowley, Hooper, & Cooper, 1996).

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