Changes In Maternal Behavior Research Articles

Limited Bedding and Nesting as a Model for Early-Life Adversity in Mice.

Early-life adversity (ELA), such as abuse, neglect, lack of resources, and an unpredictable home environment, is a known risk factor for developing neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression. Animal models for ELA have been used to study the impact of chronic stress on brain development, and typically rely on manipulating the quality and/or quantity of maternal care, as this is the major source of early-life experiences in mammals, including humans. Here, a detailed protocol for employing the Limited Bedding and Nesting (LBN) model in mice is provided. This model mimics a low-resource environment, which provokes fragmented and unpredictable patterns of maternal care during a critical developmental window (postnatal days 2-9) by limiting the amount of nesting materials given to the dam to build a nest for her pups and separating the mice from the bedding via a mesh platform in the cage. Representative data are provided to illustrate the changes in maternal behavior, as well as the diminished pup weights and long-term changes in basal corticosterone levels, that result from the LBN model. As adults, offspring rearedin the LBN environment have been shown to exhibit an aberrant stress response, cognitive deficits, and anhedonia-like behavior. Therefore, this model is an important tool to define how the maturation of stress-sensitive brain circuits is altered by ELA and results in long-term behavioral changes that confer vulnerability to mental disorders.

Duration of parturition in ewes and its consequences on behavioural traits in mother-lamb bond: Doctoral thesis abstract

Lamb mortality within the first 72 hours of life greatly affects sheep breeding, especially in extensive rearing, resulting in important economic losses and involving animal welfare. Prolonged fetal expulsion phase can influence maternal behaviour, and the extended period of hypoxia during birth can also affect the behaviour of the neonate. Limited information exists regarding the necessary duration of the fetal expulsion phase for these changes in maternal behaviour to occur or for the resulting hypoxia from prolonged delivery to either be reversed or cause sequelae that affect lamb viability. Behavioural disturbances of both the mother and the neonate prevent establishing a proper mother-lamb bond. This thesis aims to investigate the required time for the duration of the fetal expulsion phase to have consequences on both maternal and offspring behaviour. For early detection of foetal hypoxia, the effectiveness of a non-invasive and easy-to-use tool, a pulse oximeter, was evaluated and compared with venous blood gas analysis. The prolonged duration of parturition affected the behaviour of both dams and lambs, disrupting the mother-lamb bond and leading to a higher percentage of abandonment. A linear correlation between the duration of delivery and poor maternal behaviour was observed in primiparous ewes, but not in multiparous ones. The pulse oximeter successfully detected lambs with low oxygenation at birth, which would allow to establish therapeutic or management measures to improve survival. Reducing the duration of the foetal expulsion phase through programmed parturition assistance improved maternal behaviour and lamb vigour in primiparous ewes, enabling the establishment of an appropriate mother-lamb bond and potentially enhancing neonatal survival.

PERUBAHAN PERILAKU IBU TERHADAP STATUS GIZI BALITA MELALUI PELAKSANAAN PROGRAM POS GIZI

Proportion of malnutrition and malnutrition is at a percentage of 17.7% and is still above the target of 17%. The nutrition post program is one of the community empowerment-based innovation programs implemented in various regions in Indonesia to overcome nutritional problems. The purpose of the study was to see at changes in the behavior of mothers of toddlers towards nutritional status through the implementation of a nutrition post program. A type of quasi-experimental research with the research design of One Group Pretes Posttes, which was carried out in the working area of the Kuok Market Health Center, Pesisir Selatan Regency in May-June 2021. The study sample was 74 samples. Research measuring instruments are observation sheets, questionnaires and cheklist lists, data analysis with wilcoxon test and Chi-square test. Univariate results before and after the implementation of the nutrition post program were 10.90±1.91 and 11.46±1.98 for average body weight, 43.2% and 32.4% for the highest nutritional status, namely malnutrition. Bivariate results say there is a change in the mother's behavior towards the nutritional status of the toddler. It was concluded that the implementation of the nutrition post program provided a change in maternal behavior towards the nutritional status of the target toddler. It is recommended to puskesmas to increase the implementation of the nutrition post program. For researchers, in order to conduct further nutritional status checks, to see whether stunting or not toddlers are targeted.

Development of a weight loss intervention by mothers for adults with severe intellectual disabilities and autism

Objective: Obesity is highly prevalent among people with intellectual disabilities (ID) and autism. Programs to reduce obesity, however, are currently underexplored. Furthermore, people with severe ID and autism are highly dependent on their family members for a healthy lifestyle; therefore, behavioral changes within the family, especially in mothers, are necessary to reduce their obesity. This study aimed to develop a diet-centered obesity reduction program by mothers that can cater to people with severe ID and autism. Methods: The study used an AB design, with A as the baseline and B as the intervention. An intervention based on "behavior analysis" and the "obesity acceptance process of mothers" was conducted with nine mothers and adults (age range: 20-46 years) with severe ID and autism from different day centers. The primary outcomes were weight and waist circumference. The secondary outcomes were the occurrence of desirable maternal behavior, the scores of the children's inflexible adherence to target foods, and target food intake. The outcomes were analyzed at the individual and group levels. Results: Seven adults lost weight, with five losing ≥3%. During the follow-up, six adults continued losing weight. The rate for implementing behaviors related to at least one target food was approximately ≥80% for all mothers. The adults' resistance scores were generally low, and six people scored 0 points. The Friedman test revealed significant decreases in weight and waist circumference. Conclusions: The program effectively decreased the weight of people with severe ID and autism through changes in maternal behavior. The children's low resistance reinforced maternal behavioral changes.

Study protocol: examining the impacts of COVID-19 mitigation measures on pregnancy and birth outcomes in Scotland—a linked administrative data study

IntroductionThis protocol outlines aims to test the wider impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on pregnancy and birth outcomes and inequalities in Scotland.Method and analysisWe will analyse Scottish linked administrative data...

Maternal and offspring behavior in free‐ranging Japanese and moor macaques: A comparative approach

Female primates represent the most important social partner for their developing offspring. However, mothers may strongly differ in the way they relate to their offspring (e.g., in terms of two different dimensions: protectiveness and rejection). In this study, we aimed to assess how dominance style predicts (i) changes in maternal behavior through offspring development, and (ii) the link between maternal behavior and offspring behavior. We conducted behavioral observations on 34 free-ranging immatures of two species of macaques with different dominance styles: less tolerant Japanese macaques (JM;Macaca fuscata) and more tolerant moor macaques (MM;Macaca maura). Our results showed that maternal behavior differed between JM and MM: maternal proximity and grooming decreased through offspring development more quickly in MM than in JM, whereas maternal rejection and aggression, which were generally more frequent in JM, decreased with offspring age similarly in both species. In contrast, maternal restraint of offspring decreased similarly with offspring age in both species. Furthermore, dominance style was differentially associated with the link between maternal and offspring behavior: in MM only, maternal grooming predicted an increase of the probability that offspring interacted with partners other than their mothers and engaged in solitary play, whereas maternal rejection predicted a decrease in the occurrence of solitary play. Overall, these results suggest interspecific variation in maternal behavior during offspring's first years of life, and point to the possibility that these differences may have an important role in shaping their behavioral development.

Resource scarcity but not maternal separation provokes unpredictable maternal care sequences in mice and both upregulate Crh-associated gene expression in the amygdala

Early life adversity (ELA) is a major risk factor for the development of pathology, including anxiety disorders. Neurodevelopmental and behavioral outcomes following ELA are multifaceted and are influenced heavily by the type of adversity experienced and sex of the individual experiencing ELA. It remains unclear what properties of ELA portend differential neurobiological risk and the basis of sex-differences for negative outcomes. Predictability of the postnatal environment has emerged as being a core feature supporting development, with the most salient signals deriving from parental care. Predictability of parental care may be a distinguishing feature of different forms of ELA, and the degree of predictability afforded by these manipulations may contribute to the diversity of outcomes observed across models. Further, questions remain as to whether differing levels of predictability may contribute to differential effects on neurodevelopment and expression of genes associated with risk for pathology. Here, we tested the hypothesis that changes in maternal behavior in mice would be contingent on the type of ELA experienced, directly comparing predictability of care in the limited bedding and nesting (LBN) and maternal separation (MS) paradigms. We then tested whether the predictability of the ELA environment altered the expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone (Crh), a sexually-dimorphic neuropeptide that regulates threat-related learning, in the amygdala of male and female mice. The LBN manipulation reliably increased the entropy of maternal care, a measure that indicates lower predictability between sequences of dam behavior. LBN and MS rearing similarly increased the frequency of nest sorties and licking of pups but had mixed effects on other aspects of dam-, pup-, and nest-related behaviors. Increased expression of Crh-related genes was observed in pups that experienced ELA, with gene expression measures showing a significant interaction with sex and type of ELA manipulation. Specifically, MS was associated with increased expression of Crh-related genes in males, but not females, and LBN primarily increased expression of these genes in females, but not males. The present study provides evidence for predictability as a distinguishing feature of models of ELA and demonstrates robust consequences of these differing experience on sex-differences in gene expression critically associated with stress responding and sex differences in risk for pathology.

Adverse pregnancy outcomes during the COVID-19 lockdown. A descriptive study

BackgroundThe ongoing spread coronavirus disease worldwide has caused major disruptions and led to lockdowns. Everyday lifestyle changes and antenatal care inaccessibility during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have variable results that affect pregnancy outcomes. This study aimed to assess the alterations in stillbirth, neonatal-perinatal mortality, preterm birth, and birth weight during the COVID-19 national lockdown.MethodsWe used the data from the Jordan stillbirths and neonatal death surveillance system to compare pregnancy outcomes (gestational age, birth weight, small for gestational age, stillbirth, neonatal death, and perinatal death) between two studied periods (11 months before the pandemic (May 2019 to March 2020) vs. 9 months during the pandemic (April 2020 to March 1st 2020). Separate multinomial logistic and binary logistic regression models were used to compare the studied outcomes between the two studied periods after adjusting for the effects of mother’s age, income, education, occupation, nationality, health sector, and multiplicity.ResultsThere were 31106 registered babies during the study period; among them, 15311 (49.2%) and 15795 (50.8%) births occurred before and during the COVID-19 lockdown, respectively. We found no significant differences in preterm birth and stillbirth rates, neonatal mortality, or perinatal mortality before and during the COVID-19 lockdown. Our findings report a significantly lower incidence of extreme low birth weight (ELBW) infants (<1kg) during the COVID-19 lockdown period than that before the lockdown (adjusted OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.3-0.5: P value <0.001)ConclusionsDuring the COVID-19 lockdown period, the number of infants born with extreme low birth weight (ELBW) decreased significantly. More research is needed to determine the impact of cumulative socio-environmental and maternal behavioral changes that occurred during the pandemic on the factors that contribute to ELBW infants.

Postpartum Depression Is Associated With Altered Neural Connectivity Between Affective and Mentalizing Regions During Mother-Infant Interactions.

Although there has been growing interest in mood-related neural alterations in women in the initial weeks postpartum, recent work has demonstrated that postpartum depression often lingers for months or years following birth. However, research evaluating the impact of depression on maternal brain function during mother-infant interactions in the late postpartum period is lacking. The current study tested the hypothesis that depressive symptoms at 12-months postpartum are associated with neural alterations in affective and social neural regions, using near-infrared spectroscopy during in vivo mother-infant interactions. Participants were 23 birth mothers of 12-month-old infants (60% boys). While undergoing near-infrared spectroscopy, mothers engaged in an ecologically valid interactive task in which they looked at an age-appropriate book with their infants. Mothers also reported on their depressive symptoms in the past week and were rated on their observed levels of maternal sensitivity during mother-infant play. Greater depressive severity at 12-months postpartum was related to lower connectivity between the right temporoparietal junction and the lateral prefrontal cortex, but greater connectivity between the right temporoparietal junction and anterior medial prefrontal cortex during mother-infant interaction. Given the putative functions of these neural regions within the maternal brain network, our findings suggest that in the context of depression, postpartum mothers' mentalizing about her infants' thoughts and feelings may be related to lower ability to express and regulate her own emotions, but greater ability to engage in emotional bonding with her infant. Future work should explore how connectivity among these regions is associated with longitudinal changes in maternal behavior, especially in the context of changes in mothers' depressive symptoms (e.g., with treatment) over time.

Does neonatal manipulation on continuous or alternate days change maternal behavior?

Maternal separation and neonatal manipulation of pups produce changes in maternal behavior after the dam-pup reunion. Here, we examined whether continuous versus alternating days of neonatal manipulation during the first 8 postnatal days produces differential changes in maternal and non-maternal behaviors in rats. We found that both maternal separation protocols increased anogenital licking after dam-pup reunion, reflecting increased maternal care of pups.

Local administration of bicuculline into the ventrolateral and medial preoptic nuclei modifies sleep and maternal behavior in lactating rats.

The preoptic area (POA) is a brain structure classically involved in a wide variety of animal behavior including sleep and maternal care. In the current study, we evaluate the specific effect of disinhibition of two specific regions of the POA, the medial POA nucleus (mPOA) and the ventrolateral POA area (VLPO) on sleep and maternal behavior in lactating rats. For this purpose, mother rats on postpartum day 1 (PPD1) were implanted for polysomnographic recordings and with bilateral cannulae either in the mPOA or in the VLPO. The rats were tested for sleep and maternal behavior on PPD4–8 after the infusion of the GABA-A antagonist, bicuculline (0, 10 or 30 ng/0.2 µl/side). Infusion of bicuculline into the mPOA augmented retrieving and nest building behaviors and reduced both nursing and milk ejections but had almost no effect on sleep. When bicuculine was microinjected into the VLPO, the rats significantly increase the number of retrievings and mouthings and reduced the nursing time without changes in milk ejections, which was associated with an increase in wakefulness and a reduction in light sleep.Our results show that disinhibition of the mPOA, a key area in the control of maternal behavior, increased active maternal behaviors and reduced nursing without affecting wakefulness or sleep time. In contrast, the enhancement of some active maternal behaviors when the drug was infused into the VLPO, a sleep-promoting area, with a concomitant increase in wakefulness suggests that mother rats devote this additional waking time in the active maternal care of the pups. We hypothesize that maternal behavior changes after bicuculine microinjection into the VLPO are caused by a reduction in the sleep drive, rather than a direct effect on maternal behavior.

Rolling back the gains: Maternal stress undermines pregnancy health after Flint's water switch.

Environmental disasters impact disadvantaged communities disproportionately both through the epidemiological challenge of exposure, but also by undermining the progress of public health efforts. This paper studies changes to smoking cessation, breastfeeding, and weight gain during pregnancy in the period following the switch in water supply in Flint, Michigan, in April 2014. As the switch resulted in immediate and significant deterioration in water quality, eventually leading to its contamination with lead, we estimate a 10.5 percentage point increase in smoking and a 2.1 percentage point decrease in breastfeeding. We show evidence that these changes in maternal behavior are linked to increased stress due to changing water quality. We estimate that the increase in smoking alone is responsible for most of the increase in incidence of low birthweight among infants in Flint, resulting in $700 additional costs per birth. Increased smoking during pregnancy and lower breastfeeding rates in Flint roll back years of public health efforts, resulting in lifetime higher rates of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer for mothers in the community.

Pengaruh Pengetahuan dan Budaya terhadap Pemberian ASI Eksklusif di Wilayah Kerja Puskesmas Woyla Barat Kabupaten Aceh Barat

The low coverage of exclusive breastfeeding in Indonesia compared to other developing countries and ASEAN countrien certainly contributes to the adverse effects on infant health. Many factors effect exclusive breastfeeding in infants aged 0-6 months including social support factors (husband and mother in law), information exposure, decision making authority (autonomy), situation to act. Knowledge, attitudes, people who are referred/ role models and culture. Coverage of exclusive breastfeeding in the Woyla Health Center area for 2016 shows that from 172 infants aged 0-6 months, very few received exclusive breastfeeding. This shows that the coverage of exclusive breastfeeding in the Woyla West Healt Center Work Area is still low and far from the expected target. Therefore it is necessary to increase the coverage of exclusive breastfeeding through changes in maternal behavior in exclusive breastfeeding. The purpose ot this study was to analyze the influence of knowledge and culture on exclusive breastfeeding. This type of research is analytic survey. With a total sample of 32 people. The result showed that there was an influence of knowledge on the giving of exclusive breast milk with a p value of 0.032 (p<0.05). there is a cultural influence on exclusive breastfeeding with a p value of 0.005 (p<0.05). it is recommended to the head of the public health center to evaluate the extent of the implementation of the exclusive ASI program that has been carried out. Furthermore, striving to improve exclusive breasfeeding coverage by providing more intensive health education at every opportunity that exists. Keywords : exclusive breasfeeding, knowledge, culture

The Effect of Counseling with Lecture and Leaflet Methods on Knowledge and Attitudes of Pregnant Women in Providing Basic Immunization

Complete basic immunization coverage in Labuhan District is still low at 71.15%. Therefore, counseling is needed to change the behavior of parents in complete basic immunization to toddlers. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of counseling using the lecture method and the lecture method accompanied by leaflets on changes in maternal behavior in providing complete basic immunization at the Santosa Bay Health Center in Labuhanbatu Regency. This type of research is Quasi Experiment Design, with the design of Non-Equivalent Control Group. The intervention group consisted of two research subjects who were given different treatments and one research subject was made into the control group. This research was carried out in the work area of the Santosa Bay Health Center in LabuhanBatu Regency. The population in the study were all Trisemester III Pregnant Women as many as 188 people and the sample in this study were 75 people. Data analysis used included T-dependent, Wilcoxon, and Kruskal Walis. The results showed that there were differences (p= &lt;0.001) and attitudes (p= &lt;0.001) about basic immunization with the lecture method. There are differences in knowledge (p= &lt;0.001) and attitudes (p= &lt;0.001) with the lecture method accompanied by leaflets. There is a significant difference between the increase in knowledge and attitudes that get treatment counseling using the lecture method and the lecture method accompanied by leaflets. Changes in knowledge and the highest attitude on the group given the lecture accompanied by leafleat. For Teluk Sentosa Health Center, Labuhanbatu Regency, it should make a program with a routine schedule in the implementation of counseling for pregnant women both on basic immunization or related to the health and safety of mothers and babies. Where is the lecture method either without using media or by using alternative methods in implementing the program.

Prenatal exposure to methadone or buprenorphine impairs cognitive performance in young adult rats

BackgroundConcerns have been raised about the use of opioid maintenance treatment (OMT) during pregnancy and negative effects for the offspring. While neonatal outcomes and short-term effects are relatively well described, studies examining long-term effects in adolescents and adults are absent. The aim of the present study was to examine effects on learning and memory in young adult rats prenatally exposed to methadone or buprenorphine. MethodsFemale rats were implanted with a 28-day osmotic minipump delivering methadone (10 mg/kg/day), buprenorphine (1 mg/kg/day) or vehicle 5 days prior to mating. To examine possible effects on cognitive functioning, young adult offspring were included in three different behavioral tests that examine recognition memory, nonspatial, and spatial learning and memory. In addition, offspring growth and maternal behavior after birh were investigated. ResultsPrenatal exposure to methadone or buprenorphine caused impaired recognition memory and nonspatial reference learning and memory in young adult rats compared with the vehicle-treated group. Methadone-exposed offspring, but not the buprenorphine-exposed, also showed reduced long-term spatial memory. We did not observe any changes in maternal behavior or offspring growth after prenatal exposure to methadone or buprenorphine, suggesting that the impaired cognitive functioning is due to the opioid exposure rather than reduced maternal caregiving. ConclusionThe present findings of long-term cognitive impairments in methadone- and buprenorphine-exposed offspring points to a negative impact of OMT on neurobiological development.

The Effect of Breathing Techniques on Maternal Behavioral Changes against Labor Pain and APGAR Score in Primiparous Women

The Effect of Breathing Techniques on Maternal Behavioral Changes against Labor Pain and APGAR Score in Primiparous Women

Impact of mobile health (mHealth) interventions during the perinatal period for mothers in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review.

The primary objective of this review was to determine the impact of mother-targeted mobile health (mHealth) educational interventions available during the perinatal period in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) on maternal and neonatal outcomes. There has been significant growth of mHealth projects in LMICs. The use of mHealth interventions across the perinatal period offers the ability to share information with mothers about essential newborn care and to encourage mothers to attend perinatal clinics to obtain additional in-person support as needed. The impact of perinatal mHealth educational interventions on maternal behavior change and early neonatal mortality and morbidity outcomes in LMICs is unknown. This review considered studies that included mHealth educational interventions targeting mothers living in LMICs during the antenatal or postnatal period using mobile devices. The intervention must have been initiated during the antenatal period (conception through birth) through six weeks postnatally. All experimental study designs were included. Outcomes included maternal knowledge, maternal self-efficacy, antenatal/postnatal care attendance and newborn early morbidity and mortality. PubMed, Embase and CINAHL were searched on March 19, 2018 for studies published in English. The search was updated on June 7, 2018. Critical appraisal was undertaken by two independent reviewers using standardized critical appraisal instruments. Quantitative data were extracted from included studies independently by two reviewers using a standardized data extraction tool. All conflicts were resolved through consensus with a third reviewer. Quantitative data were, where possible, pooled in statistical meta-analysis. Where statistical pooling was not possible, the findings were reported narratively. A total of 1514 articles were screened, and 71 full-text papers were assessed for eligibility, with 23 articles critically appraised. Following appraisal, three articles were excluded due to poor quality. Of the 20 articles included, 16 were peer reviewed articles and four were gray literature reports. Eight papers targeted antenatal education, eight covered postnatal education and four covered both antenatal and postnatal education. Studies varied in terms of design, country, approach, frequency and content. Mothers who received an mHealth intervention attended a significantly greater number of antenatal care contacts (mean difference = 0.67, 95% confidence interval, 0.35 to 0.99, P = 0.0001) and were significantly more likely to have at least one postnatal care contact between six and eight weeks (odds ratio = 1.36, 95% confidence interval, 1.00 to 1.85, P = 0.05). Maternal knowledge, self-efficacy and neonatal mortality and morbidity were inconsistently reported across studies. mHealth education interventions are associated with increased maternal contact antenatally and postnatally in LMICs. Due to heterogeneity of studies among country of implementation, approach, frequency and content of the mHealth interventions, the impact on other maternal and neonatal outcomes is inconclusive. Future work using mHealth to target maternal education during the perinatal period should focus on standardization of content and outcome evaluations.

Repeated three-hour maternal deprivation as a model of early-life stress alters maternal behavior, olfactory learning and neural development.

Early life stress such as physical abuse, trauma or neglect during a critical period of development can elicit negative long-lasting effects on health. Neonatal maternal deprivation (MD) is a stressful event capable of triggering structural and neurobiological changes in Central Nervous System (CNS) development during proliferative and migratory cell differentiation. In this study, we investigated the maternal behavior of lactating rats submitted to protocol of chronic neonatal maternal deprivation (MD) during postnatal day (PND) 1 until 10. We analyzed the effects of the MD in the olfactory memory and cellular proliferation and differentiation in the hippocampus and olfactory bulb in Wistar rat pups on 7, 11 and 21 days postpartum. Analysis in active neurons, cellular differentiation and proliferation, were marked and evaluated by flow cytometry in tissue samples of hippocampi and olfactory bulb. Our results demonstrated an increase in maternal behavior immediately after dam's return to the home-cage in MD group compared to the non-deprived group. In addition, MD pups spent more time (higher latency) to identify the nest odor in comparison to the non-deprived rat pups in the olfactory learning task and showed a significant delay in the neural differentiation and proliferation in the hippocampus and olfactory bulb. These results reveal that disruptions in the mother-infant bonding by the MD induce changes in maternal behavior and interaction with the offspring that could be leading to delayed CNS development and significant impairment in offspring's olfactory learning.

Behavioral and epigenetic consequences of oxytocin treatment at birth.

Oxytocin is used in approximately half of all births in the United States during labor induction and/or augmentation. However, the effects of maternal oxytocin administration on offspring development have not been fully characterized. Here, we used the socially monogamous prairie vole to examine the hypothesis that oxytocin exposure at birth can have long-term developmental consequences. Maternally administered oxytocin increased methylation of the oxytocin receptor (Oxtr) in the fetal brain. As adults, oxytocin-exposed voles were more gregarious, with increased alloparental caregiving toward pups and increased close social contact with other adults. Cross-fostering indicated that these effects were the result of direct action on the offspring, rather than indirect effects via postnatal changes in maternal behavior. Male oxytocin-exposed offspring had increased oxytocin receptor density and expression in the brain as adults. These results show that long-term effects of perinatal oxytocin may be mediated by an epigenetic mechanism.

Evaluating Mindful With Your Baby/Toddler: Observational Changes in Maternal Sensitivity, Acceptance, Mind-Mindedness, and Dyadic Synchrony.

Studies on the effectiveness of mindful parenting interventions predominantly focused on self-report measures of parenting, whereas observational assessments of change are lacking. The present study examined whether the Mindful with your baby/toddler training leads to observed changes in maternal behavior and mother–child interaction quality. Mindful with your baby/toddler is a 8- or 9-week mindful parenting training for clinically referred mothers of young children (aged 0–48 months), who experience parental stress, mother–child interaction problems, and/or whose children experience regulation problems. The study involved a quasi-experimental non-random design including a sample of 50 mothers who were diagnosed with a mood disorder (n = 21, 42%), an anxiety disorder (n = 7, 14%), post-traumatic stress disorder (n = 6, 12%), or other disorder (n = 7, 14%). Mothers completed a parental stress questionnaire and participated in home observations with their babies (n = 36) or toddlers (n = 14) during a waitlist, pretest, and posttest assessment. Maternal sensitivity, acceptance, and mind-mindedness were coded from free-play interactions and dyadic synchrony was coded from face-to-face interactions. Sensitivity and acceptance were coded with the Ainsworth’s maternal sensitivity scales. Mind-mindedness was assessed by calculating frequency and proportions of appropriate and nonattuned mind-related comments. Dyadic synchrony was operationalized by co-occurrences of gazes and positive facial expressions and maternal and child responsiveness in vocal interaction within the dyad. Coders were blind to the measurement moment. From waitlist to pretest, no significant improvements were observed. At posttest, mothers reported less parenting stress, and were observed to show more accepting behavior and make less nonattuned comments than at pretest, and children showed higher levels of responsiveness. The outcomes suggest that the Mindful with your baby/toddler training affects not only maternal stress, but also maternal behavior, particularly (over)reactive parenting behaviors, which resulted in more acceptance, better attunement to child’s mental world, and more “space” for children to respond to their mothers during interactions. Mindful with your baby/toddler may be a suitable intervention for mothers of young children with (a combination of) maternal psychopathology, parental stress, and problems in the parent–child interaction and child regulation problems.