Inexperienced Mothers Research Articles

Maternal and Neonatal Behaviour in Italian Mediterranean Buffaloes.

Simple SummaryA clear understanding of species-specific natural behaviours is crucial for assessing animal welfare. In this regard, one of the most sensitive and critical moments for dairy farming animals is the post-partum period. Currently, very little information is available on this period in buffaloes. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate the maternal and neonatal behavioural patterns of Italian Mediterranean buffaloes during the early post-partum period and the relationship of both dam and calf welfare indicators (e.g., behaviours and growth rate). Behavioural patterns (postural, grooming, maternal rejection, and feeding) are described in detail for both dams and calves. Maternal rejection behaviours (pawing the calf, pushing the calf, and avoidance behaviour) are found to be negatively correlated with calf growth. In this regard, monitoring buffaloes’ maternal behaviours seems to be crucial, especially for primiparous mothers, in order to prevent welfare consequences for newborns when raised together.The aim of this study was to describe the neonatal and maternal behaviour of Italian Mediterranean buffaloes. Thirty primiparous buffaloes were moved into individual pens 12.5 (±2.5) days before calving. Maternal and neonatal behaviours were recorded for 48 h after calving and the analysis was performed in continuous sampling with the software BORIS. Calves’ clinical evaluations (temperature, weight, and heart and respiratory rates) were performed at different time intervals and correlated with behavioural data from the dam. Data were analysed with parametric and non-parametric methods after controlling their distribution. The maternal behavioural pattern found highlighted buffaloes’ priorities during the post-partum period: firstly, they stand and start grooming to ensure proper care for the calf; it is only after this that they dedicate time to maintenance behaviours (feeding and lying). The dams mainly groomed the calf during the first six hours after calving (average time in the 1–6-h interval: 7.7 ± 2.5 min., F = (2.5, 60.2) = 75.0; p < 0.001) to ensure the formation of the mother–infant bond; thereafter, the behaviour decreased over time. As reported in the literature, inexperienced mothers could sometimes delay the calf’s first suckling with aggressive or rejection behaviours. In this regard, 16 buffalo dams showed at least one maternal rejection behaviour, which was found to negatively correlate with calves’ daily weight gain (DWG) at 14 (rs = −0.5, p = 0.02) and 21 days (rs = −0.7, p < 0.001). The calves took on average 212.0 ± 110.0 min to suckle, and this behaviour was mainly shown during the first six hours. Overall, suckling behaviour was correlated with standing: (rs = 0.6, p < 0.001) and walking (rs = 0.9, p < 0.001). The calves’ live weight and DWG were consistently higher than the values reported in the literature. Our results present a detailed description of maternal and neonatal behaviour in the early post-partum period in Italian Mediterranean buffaloes. We also found that maternal rejection behaviours can negatively influence the calves’ growth. Finally, we think that such results can improve the management of buffaloes during the period around parturition.

Ewe-lamb bond of experienced and inexperienced mothers undernourished during gestation

The aims were to compare ewe-lamb behaviours between primiparous (PRI) and multiparous (MUL) undernourished grazing ewes at birth and at 3 months of age, and to determine if mothers’ parity affects milk yield and composition, and lambs’ body weight (BW). Food availability restricted the nutritional requirements from day 30 to day 143 of gestation. The MUL ewes had greater BW than the PRI during gestation, and their lambs tended to vocalize less frequently until their first suckle. PRI ewes both displayed a lower frequency of acceptance behaviours and, a greater number of high-pitched bleats toward the alien lamb than toward that of their own, but MUL did not. PRI ewes produced less milk than the MUL ewes. The heart rate was greater in lambs reared by MUL ewes than by PRI. Although PRI ewes had a lower BW during gestation, this difference was stable throughout and did not affect the establishment of the ewe-lamb bond neither at birth nor at 3 months postpartum. At least under nutritionally restricted conditions during gestation, inexperienced mothers appeared to have had a shorter sensitivity period of maternal responsiveness than that of experienced mothers.

Effect of Educational Intervention Based on Health Belief Model for Mothers about Prevention of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Background; Sudden infant death syndrome is the sudden unexplained death of an infant less than one year of age which remains unexplained after a thorough investigation of clinical history. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of educational intervention based on Health Belief Model about prevention of sudden infant death syndrome. Subjects and Method: A convenience sampling of sixty mothers and their infants participated in the study. The study was conducted at Pediatric Medical Department and Pediatric Outpatient Clinic of Tanta Main University Hospital. Three tools were used to collect data: Sociodemographic characteristics and structured interview schedule, Reported Safe Sleep Questionnaire, and Health Belief Model of mothers related to sudden infant death syndrome. The results revealed that there was a statistically significant improvement of mothers' knowledge about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome after health education. The mean scores of mothers' total health belief constructs increased after health education. The study concluded that there was a positive significant improvement in mothers' knowledge, reported sleep practices as well as health beliefs about sudden infant death syndrome after health education. Recommendations: Nurses should provide mothers with information about safe sleep recommendations to prevent sudden infant death syndrome especially young and inexperienced mothers.

Exploring causal components of plasticity in grey seal birthdates: Effects of intrinsic traits, demography, and climate.

Change in breeding phenology is often a response to environmental forcing, but less is known of the mechanism underlying such changes and their fitness consequences. Here, we report on changes in the breeding phenology from a 27‐year longitudinal study (1991–2017) of individually marked, known‐aged grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) on Sable Island, Nova Scotia, Canada. We used generalized linear mixed models and a 3‐step process to develop a model that includes interactions between intrinsic and extrinsic covariates and to test hypotheses about the influence of fixed factors (maternal age, parity, previous reproductive success, pup sex, colony density, Atlantic Multidecal Oscillation (AMO), North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), and Sea Surface Temperature) and a random factor (female identity) on parturition dates. We also examined the consequences of the shift in birthdates on maternal energy allocation in offspring as measured by pup weaning mass. Birthdates were known for 2,768 pups of 660 known‐age females. For 494 females with ≥2 parturition dates, repeatability as measured by the intraclass correlation was high (mean = 0.66). 87% of the variation in birthdates was explained by a mixed‐effects model that included intrinsic and extrinsic fixed effects. Most of the explained variation was associated with the random effect of female identity. Parity was the most important intrinsic fixed effect, with inexperienced mothers giving birth later in the season than multiparous females. Over almost 3 decades, mean birthdates advanced by 15 days. The mixed model with intrinsic effects and population size, the detrended AMO from the previous year and mean NAO in the previous 3 years explained 80% of the variation with 21% of variation from the fixed effects. Both primiparous and multiparous individuals responded to the climate forcing, and there was strong evidence for heterogeneity in the response. Nevertheless, the shift in birthdates did not impact pup weaning mass.

Why do mothers use nipple shields and how does this influence duration of exclusive breastfeeding?

The present study addressed the contentious discussions about the benefits and risks of nipple shield use. The objective was to explore self-reported reasons for using a nipple shield and examine associations pertaining to the mother, the infant and duration of breastfeeding. Data were collected from 4815 Danish mothers (68%) who filled out a self-administered questionnaire with open and closed question. Data were analyzed by content and statistical descriptive and multivariable analysis. Results showed that 22% of the mothers used nipple shields in the beginning and 7% used it the entire breastfeeding period. Primiparae used nipple shields more often than multiparae, and early breastfeeding problems as well as background factors like lower age, education and higher body mass index were associated with a higher likelihood of using nipple shields. Characteristics of infants associated with introducing nipple shields were lower- gestational age and birthweight. The use of nipple shields was furthermore found to be associated with a threefold increased risk of earlier cessation of exclusive breastfeeding: among primiparae odds ratio = 3.80 (confidence interval 2.61-5.53); among multiparae odds ratio = 3.33 (confidence interval 1.88-5.93). Mothers' own descriptions underlined how various early breastfeeding problems led to the use of nipple shields. Some mothers were helped through a difficult period; others described the use creating a kind of dependence. The results highlight how nipple shields may help breastfeeding mothers in the early period but is not necessarily a supportive solution to the inexperienced mother who needs extra support in the early process of learning to breastfeed.

Maternal Caregiving and Strategies Used by Inexperienced Mothers of Young Infants with Complex Health Conditions

To describe maternal caregiving and related strategies used by first-time mothers of young infants with complex health conditions (CHC) in the first 6 months after discharge. Grounded theory. Data were collected in participants' homes in the Northeast United States. Eight first-time mothers of infants age 6 months or younger with CHC. Purposive and theoretical sampling were used. Semistructured interviews were completed at 2-month intervals, beginning 2 weeks after their infants' discharge. Analysis of 28 interviews was done with the constant comparative method. A grounded theory of maternal caregiving was conceptualized from the data. This time-and-experience-mediated process involved three phases of increasing confidence and expertise, developing in the context of decision-making responsibility. Related maternal strategies included appraising, normalizing, organizing, assessing, practicing, validating, experimenting, nurturing, and negotiating. Mothering became predictable and integrated in everyday life by about 6 months after the infant's discharge home. Findings can help clinicians and researchers better understand what happens over time as new mothers care for infants with CHC. Exploration of these patterns in a more diverse group of mothers of children with CHC can support the development of targeted interventions for this specialized population.

Maternal Behavior by Birth Order in Wild Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes): Increased Investment by First-Time Mothers.

Parental investment theory predicts that maternal resources are finite and allocated among offspring based on factors including maternal age and condition, and offspring sex and parity. Among humans, firstborn children are often considered to have an advantage and receive greater investment than their younger siblings. However, conflicting evidence for this "firstborn advantage" between modern and hunter-gatherer societies raises questions about the evolutionary history of differential parental investment and birth order. In contrast to humans, most non-human primate firstborns belong to young, inexperienced mothers and exhibit higher mortality than laterborns. In this study, we investigated differences in maternal investment and offspring outcomes based on birth order (firstborn vs. later-born) among wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodyte schweinfurthii). During the critical first year of life, primiparous mothers nursed, groomed, and played with their infants more than did multiparous mothers. Furthermore, this pattern of increased investment in firstborns appeared to be compensatory, as probability of survival did not differ by birth order. Our study did not find evidence for a firstborn advantage as observed in modern humans but does suggest that unlike many other primates, differences in maternal behavior help afford chimpanzee first-borns an equal chance of survival.

Postfledging family space use in great tits in relation to environmental and parental characteristics

Parental care has been widely studied in birds and mammals, but variation in space use in family groups has received less attention, despite its potential importance for both survival and subsequent dispersal of offspring. In this study, we evaluate factors affecting postfledging family space use in a small territorial songbird, the great tit (Parus major). Family space use was monitored using radio tracking. Our main objectives were 1) to quantify in detail the temporal and spatial scale of family movements, 2) to test behavioral hypotheses explaining when and how frequently families leave their breeding territory, and 3) to test to what extent movements were based on familiarity with the environment. We found that variation in space use was to a large extent due to some families, but not others, regularly undertaking foraging excursions of up to more than a kilometer away. Daily excursion probability was higher for families occupying low-quality territories, and consequently, these families covered larger areas during foraging. Excursion behavior and range use also strongly depended on maternal breeding experience and personality. We further present some striking examples of inexperienced mothers moving toward previously visited areas, suggesting that familiarity with the environment plays an important role in patterns of space use. Overall, our results suggest that variation in family movements reflects different foraging strategies in relation to parental characteristics. Copyright 2011, Oxford University Press.

PHYSIOLOGY OF LACTATION

29 May 2005 Dear Editor, I was interested in the report of deaths of two infants aged 6 weeks and five others mainly males near 6 weeks after birth all while at the breast. I would like to suggest a possible cause that does not seem to have been considered. The two died of asphyxia diagnosed as due to ‘oro nasal obstruction’. They were both ‘at risk’ babies with inexperienced mothers not concentrating on the baby's feeding in the critical 6 weeks period during which the baby learns to coordinate breathing with feeding and the mother's let down (draught) reflex stabilizes. Baby 1 was a male full-term, first-born baby delivered by Caesarean section for fetal distress showing some respiratory distress after delivery. The primiparous mother was absorbed in a film in a picture theatre when the baby became restless having started suckling stimulating the milk let down reflex. Mother assumed that restlessness was due to a bowel action and put him back on the breast after 15 min by which time it is not uncommon for a second let down to occur. This was followed by apnoea and post-mortem showed that the baby had died of asphyxia, which could have been from laryngeal obstruction. Baby 2 was a male born 2 weeks early with respiratory distress up to the 7th day and followed by readmission to hospital with jaundice. The mother was shopping with the baby in a sling and when he became restless having started breast-feeding in the sling, she continued upstairs shopping until she noticed that he had stopped breathing. Death and post-mortem 4 days later showed ‘diffuse alveolar damage’. My study of the let down (draught) reflex recorded by mothers and published 50 years ago in The Archives of Disease in Childhood, Vol. 29, No. 143, 1954, showed the developing pattern of the let down reflex. In the first weeks of lactation, milk is usually already down when the baby is put to the breast, but the reflex takes a few seconds for let down by 6 weeks often with considerable force of milk ejection that can confuse the baby's feeding and breathing control. This was when these babies suffocated. Ultrasound studies in University of Western Australia by Donna Ramsay et al. are confirming multiple let downs, but there have not been reliable studies yet of the force and variability in this highly emotional few weeks. This is often not recognized by primiparae who do not experience the let down sensation that often only becomes felt in the 3rd to 6th week. A forceful gush of milk could have been very dangerous for these babies recovering from early respiratory distress with impaired respiratory reflex response, being nursed in difficult even horizontal positions with mother's attention distracted. I now have a number of breast-fed great grand children with many books on rearing babies, attending groups and advised by lactation experts, but they do not seem to get taught the basic physiology of lactation and methods of helping the baby to adjust to the reflex in the first important 6 weeks. I do not wish to suggest that a neonatal paediatric great grandmother should be interfering and scaring mothers, but it would help to give them some gentle education in lactation physiology.

Parenting Stress in First-Time Mothers of Twins and Triplets Conceived After in vitro Fertilization

There is evidence that parenting twins adversely affects the mother's emotional well-being, and triplet births pose even more demands. This prospective cohort study examined parenting stress and psychosocial status 1 yearpostpartum in 129 women having a single naturally conceived birth, 95 with a single in vitro fertilization (IVF) birth and 36 with a twin or (in 5 instances) triplet IVF birth. Participants entered the study at 18 weeks gestation and were followed up 6 weeks and 12 months after giving birth. Both the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ)-12 and Parenting Stress Index Short Form were administered. Multiple IVF births were associated with higher total parental stress scores than women with natural pregnancies and also more child difficulty and more dysfunctional parent-child interaction. Compared with singleton IVF births, women with multiple IVF births had significantly higher scores for total parenting stress, and also more child difficulty and dysfunctional interaction. The singleton natural and IVF birth groups did not differ significantly in these respects. Similar findings were obtained after excluding triplet births. Abnormal total parenting stress scores at and above the 85th percentile were found in 22% of the multiple IVF birth group, 5% of women with a singleton IVF birth, and 9% of those who conceived naturally. Mothers with multiple IVF births were less likely to be working outside the home at follow up. Only 26% of women with singleton IV births reported having felt depressed in the year after giving birth, compared with 41% of women who conceived naturally and 47% of those with multiple IVF births. There were, however, no significant differences in the frequency of medical treatment for depression or in GHQ scores. These findings confirm reports that having a singleton IVF birth is not associated with increased parenting stress. Parenting more than 1 young infant is demanding, especially for an inexperienced mother. The women studied were generally in stable long-term relationships and were able to pay for fertility treatment. The effects of multiple births are probably greater in socially and psychologically disadvantaged families.

Presence of the father and parental experience have differentiated effects on pup development in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus).

Conflicting data exist on the importance of the father and parental experience during development in rodents. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of these two variables on development in Mongolian gerbils. Forty pairs of males and females with a litter size of between 4 and 7 pups were used as subjects. Twenty couples had no experience in raising young. After the birth of their pups, four experimental groups were formed: (I) inexperienced mother and father; (II) inexperienced mother; (III) experienced mother and father and (IV) experienced mother. When the pups reached 10 days of age, pup and parental behavior was recorded in experimental sessions of 15 min on 11 consecutive days. Through the statistical analysis it was found that the presence of the father significantly increased the physical contact between pups and parents and that pups opened their eyes earlier in comparison to the groups without the father. On the other hand, parental experience had a significant influence on the behavior of the pups (locomotion inside and outside the nest, and self-grooming). The results of this study suggest that parental experience and the presence of the father have differentiated effects on development in Mongolian gerbils.

Deshidratación hipernatrémica asociada a lactancia materna

During the last 10 years the number of publications reporting a rise in the incidence of hypernatremia in children who are exclusively breast-fed has increased. To report the results of a series of cases detected in a district hospital in the last 6 years in order to better delineate the clinical characteristics of infant hypernatremia, its optimal treatment and preventive measures. The selection criteria for our study included all neonates aged less than 30 days with serum sodium concentrations equal to or greater than 150 mEq/mL who were exclusively breast fed. Cases were identified through the departmental database. Twelve newborns were identified who presented the following characteristics: mean gestational age of 39.5 weeks, mean birth weight of 3440 grams, mean percentage of weight loss from birth 13.7 % and mean serum sodium value 152.75 mEg/mL. Five neonates (42 %) were admitted from the maternity unit and seven (58 %) from the emergency department. The presenting complaints included weight loss in nine infants, irritability in six, fever in six, poor feeding in five and jaundice in two. Most of the neonates had more than one symptom. Ten of the mothers (83.33 %) were primiparous and two (16.67 %) were secundiparous. Hypernatremia due to breast-feeding is a consequence of inadequate breast-feeding technique in inexperienced mothers. A possible solution would be for health professionals to provide mothers with greater support.

Social learning in the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus).

This study investigates whether golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) pups can acquire a new behavior by interacting with an experienced adult conspecific. The behavior consisted of using teeth and forepaws to retrieve a piece of food dangling from a small chain. Instrumental learning techniques were used to train the demonstrators. Four groups of pups were exposed to different kinds of social experience. In the first group, the pups interacted with their skilled mother; in the second group, they did the same with their inexperienced mother; in the third group, they interacted with inexperienced littermates; and in the fourth group, the pups were tested individually. At the end of an acquisition period, the pups were tested individually to assess their performance. The results demonstrate that interacting with a skilled mother has a remarkable effect on the acquisition of a new feeding behavior by hamster pups.

Risk factors for infantile hypothermia in early neonatal life

Hypothermia in infancy is not uncommon among the low socioeconomic population in various parts of the world. It is prevalent in Israel and is associated with severe morbidity and mortality. We tried to identify neonates at risk among the population of the Negev district of Israel. Ninety-one infant hospitalized with infantile hypothermia (IH) during the years 1974 to 1981 were identified. The neonates belonged to two distinct ethnic groups, Bedouins and Jews, and were compared with 120 healthy controls of similar background. Our data show that premature infants and babies with low birth weight born during the cold season to young (inexperienced) mothers of lower socioeconomic strata and who sustained perinatal morbidity are at risk for IH. It is suggested that parents of infants at risk should be approached while the baby is till in the nursery, be advised about the possibility of hypothermia, and institute the appropriate preventive measures.

Progress report: Results of a long‐range captive breeding program for the bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus and Tursiops truncatus gilli

AbstractThere have been 36 bottlenose dolphins born in breeding colonies at Sea World, California, and Sea World, Florida, from 1978–1985. Significant features of this successful reproductive program are construction of a compatible breeding colony, early hormonal detection of pregnancy, pre‐ and postnatal association of inexperienced mothers with experienced females and their calves, and minimized handling of the mothers and calves until the calves are over 1 year of age. Inclusion in the breeding colonies of males old enough to be effective breeders is stressed. Females in the colonies have successfully bred from 8–9 years of age to 23–24 years of age. Calving intervals in the colonies vary from 2 to over 3 years. Calves are born all year round, with some peaking in calving activity in the spring and fall months. Serum progesterone levels greater than 6,000 pg/ml, maintained over a 4–6‐week period, are considered indicative of pregnancy. Progesterone levels vary from less than 10,000 to over 50,000 pg/ml during gestation, averaging 25,000 pg/ml. The need for further study of variation in the pattern of progesterone levels during pregnancy is emphasized. A gestation period for Tursiops of 11.5 to 12 months is consistent with our cumulative progesterone data.

Postnatal blues: A bio-social phenomenon?

This paper examines the experience of postnatal blues in a sample of 68 first-time mothers. Of a range of factors investigated for predictive value, only lack of previous experience with infants was found to be significant. Drawing on the findings of other studies it is suggested that postnatal blues are most likely to be the product of a physical susceptibility occurring in conjunction with certain stressful external conditions during the immediate postnatal period. The anxiety felt by inexperienced mothers and the stress associated with hospitalisation are identified as possible external triggers to the ‘blues’. This suggests that at least a proportion of these episodes may be preventable with better preparation for infant care and greater attention to the quality of the post-birth hospital environment.

Effects of sibling-rearing experience on future reproductive success in two species of callitrichidae.

The survival rate for offspring of mothers who either had or did not have previous experience rearing younger siblings was compared in two callitrichid species, Callithrix jacchus and Saguinus oedipus. Offspring of mothers with sibling-rearing experience had a higher survival percentage than offspring of inexperienced mothers in both species. While 50-60% of offspring of inexperienced C. jacchus mothers survived, no offspring of inexperienced S. oedipus mothers survived. The results suggest that sibling-rearing experience is necessary for adequate maternal behavior in S. oedipus, but not necessary to the development of maternal behavior in C. jacchus. Effects of previous sibling-rearing experience of S. oedipus fathers on offspring survival were also examined. Whether the father had rearing experience was not related to the survival of their offspring.

Primiparous and multiparous monkey mothers in a mildly stressful social situation: First three months

AbstractEight primiparous rhesus monkey mothers were matched with 8 multiparous rhesus monkey mothers with regard to date of delivery and sex of infant. Each mother was housed and tested individually with her infant to preclude the compensating effects of peer experience. The test situation involved transporting each mother‐infant pair from the home cage to a test cage of similar size where the pair was visually exposed to a strange mother‐infant pair and human observers. The primiparous mothers looked at, threatened, fear grimaced, and lip‐smacked to these social stimuli significantly more frequently than did the multiparous females. In addition, the inexperienced mothers stroked or petted their infants significantly more frequently than the experienced mothers. The results support the idea that primiparous mothers are more “anxious” or concerned for their infants' welfare than are multiparous mothers.

TELEPHONE IN DIAGNOSIS OF RESPIRATORY DISEASES.

Introduction The telephone can be an aid in the transmission of the sounds of respiratory diseases from patients to the physician and aid in the diagnosis of some of the leading causes of death in infants and children. The telephone is often the medium by which a mother brings respiratory diseases to the attention of the doctor. Every doctor can recall the inexperienced mother who frantically calls, My child can't breathe or My child is choking. She may be misinterpreting the coryza of an upper respiratory infection. Conversely, an inexperienced mother may interpret severe bronchiolitis as a mild cold; the infant may be found dead in its crib due to lack of communication and proper cross-examination and evaluation of the symptoms by the physician. It is important for the physician not to fall into a trap by improper questioning of the parent. This can be avoided by having the mother

OVER-FED INFANTS; CAUSE, EFFECT, TREATMENT.Read in the Section on Diseases of Children, at the Forty-fifth Annual Meeting of the American Medical Association, held at San Francisco, June 5-8, 1894.

We can say properly, that an infant is over-fed when it fails to digest and assimilate the food furnished it. The natural food for the newborn babe, all things being equal, is the food sent with it—the mother's milk—which for the first two or three days after birth seems, to the inexperienced or unthinking mother or nurse very inadequate to the support of the child, but it is all that the little new creature can possibly, with certainty, digest and assimilate. Too often the mischief is played with the child during the initiatory period of its digestion. It is often difficult for the attendants in the nursery to realize or understand the untried weak condition of the whole digestive and correlative systems of the infant. In fact, we must consider that the whole new being with all its varied systems, both anatomic and physiologic is in a primary rudimentary condition.