Life Sciences Commons^™

Associations Between Mothers’ Use Of Food To Soothe, Feeding Mode, And Infant Weight During Early Infancy, Megan K. Hupp, Peggy C. Papathakis, Suzanne Phelan, Alison K. Ventura

Kinesiology and Public Health

Weight status and rate of weight gain in the first six months postpartum are strong predictors of later obesity; thus, infant feeding practices are an important target for obesity prevention efforts. The use of food to soothe (FTS) is associated with less-favorable eating habits and weight outcomes for older infants and children. However, few studies have examined correlates of use of FTS during early infancy. The primary aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore associations between use of FTS and infant weight status in the first 6 months postpartum. A secondary aim was to identify the combination of maternal …

Mother–Infant Interactions And Infant Intake During Breastfeeding Versus Bottle-Feeding Expressed Breast Milk, Alison K. Ventura, Megan Hupp, Joseph Lavond

Kinesiology and Public Health

Bottle-fed infants are at higher risk for rapid weight gain compared with breastfed infants. Few studies have attempted to disentangle effects of feeding mode, milk composition and relevant covariates on feeding interactions and outcomes. The objective of the present study was to compare effects of breastfeeding directly at the breast versus bottle-feeding expressed breast milk on feeding interactions. Mothers with <6-month-old infants (n = 47) participated in two counterbalanced, feeding observations. Mothers breastfed their infants directly from the breast during one visit (breast condition) and bottle-fed their infants expressed breast milk during the other (bottle condition). Masked raters later coded videos using the Nursing Child Assessment Parent–Child Interaction Feeding Scale. Infant intake was assessed. Mothers self-reported sociodemographic characteristics, infant feeding patterns (i.e. percentage of daily feedings from bottles) and level of pressuring feeding style. Mother and infant behaviours were similar during breast and bottle conditions. Percent bottle-feeding moderated effects of condition on intake (P = 0.032): greater percent bottle-feeding predicted greater intake during the bottle compared with breast condition. Effects of feeding mode were not moderated by parity or pressuring feeding style, but, regardless of condition, multiparous mothers fed their infants more than primiparous mothers (P = 0.028), and pressuring feeding style was positively associated with infant intake (P = 0.045). Findings from the present study do not support the hypothesis that feeding mode directly impacts dyadic interaction for predominantly breastfeeding mothers and infants, but rather suggest between-subject differences in feeding experiences and styles predict feeding outcomes for this population.

Associations Between Variations In Breast Anatomy And Early Breastfeeding Challenges, Alison K. Ventura, Brittany Lore, Olga Mireles

Kinesiology and Public Health

Background: Mothers with anatomic variability (e.g., shorter, wider nipples; denser areolas) may experience breastfeeding challenges disproportionately.

Research aim: To examine whether variations in breast anatomy are associated with risk for early breastfeeding challenges.

Methods: Participants included mothers < 6 weeks postpartum. Nipple base width, nipple length, and areolar density were measured on the right and left breast separately. Experiences with early breastfeeding challenges were determined through a combination of maternal report and clinical assessment.

Results: Participants (N = 119) had an average nipple diameter of 23.4 (SD = 3.0) mm for left nipples and 23.5 (SD = 3.0) mm for right nipples (range = 10–34 mm). Average nipple length was 8.5 (SD = 3.2) mm for left breasts and 9.1 (SD = 3.2) mm for right breasts (range = 5–20 mm); 35% of participants had dense areolas …

A Qualitative Study Of Breastfeeding And Formula-Feeding Mothers’ Perceptions Of And Experiences In Wic, Rebeca Almeida, Shawnee Alvarez Gutierrez, Shannon E. Whaley, Alison K. Ventura

Kinesiology and Public Health

Objective: To explore Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) participants’ perspectives about why formula-fed infants are less likely to be recertified at 1 year compared with breastfed infants.

Design: Four focus groups of WIC mothers, stratified by language spoken (English or Spanish) and feeding mode (breastfeeding [BF] or formula-feeding [FF]).

Setting: Two WIC sites within Los Angeles County, CA.

Participants: Mothers of 6- to 12-month-old infants (n = 31) in the WIC program.

Phenomenon of Interest: Mothers’ perceptions of (1) how WIC supports BF and FF mothers; and (2) experiences of FF mothers in WIC, with …

Maternal Digital Media Use During Infant Feeding And The Quality Of Feeding Interactions, Alison K. Ventura, Jordyn Levy, Sierra Sheeper

Kinesiology and Public Health

Experimental research with parents of older children suggests parents’ engagement with technological devices (e.g., television, mobile devices) in the presence of their children decreases the quality of parent-child interactions. Many mothers report frequent use of technological devices during infant feeding but, to date, few studies have explored the potential association between maternal technological device use during feeding and the quality of infant feeding interactions. To this end, mothers (n = 25) and their infants (mean age = 19.3 ± 6.4 weeks) participated in a within-subject, experimental study to explore associations between maternal digital media use and feeding interaction quality …

Exploring Correlates Of Infant Clarity Of Cues During Early Feeding Interactions, Alison K. Ventura, Sierra Sheeper, Jordyn Levy

Kinesiology and Public Health

Background Recommendations aimed at reducing infants’ risk for rapid weight gain primarily focus on promoting caregivers’ use of responsive feeding practices and styles. These recommendations are grounded in the belief that infants will effectively signal hunger and satiation to their caregivers. To date, few studies have explored how variability in infants’ communication of hunger and satiation may contribute to feeding interactions.

Objective Our aim was to explore variability in, and correlates of, infant clarity of cues during feeding interactions.

Design This was a cross-sectional study.

Participants/setting Mother-infant dyads (n = 86) were video-recorded during a typical feeding interaction within laboratory-based …

Does Breastfeeding Shape Food Preferences? Links To Obesity, Alison K. Ventura

Kinesiology and Public Health

The first 2 years of life have been recognized as a critical window for obesity prevention efforts. This period is characterized by rapid growth and development and, in a relatively short period of time, a child transitions from a purely milk-based diet to a more varied solid-food diet. Much learning about food and eating occurs during this critical window, and it is well-documented that early feeding and dietary exposures predict later food preferences, eating behaviors, and dietary patterns. The focus of this review will be on the earliest feeding experiences - breast- and formula-feeding - and the unique role of …

Maternal Distraction During Breast- And Bottle Feeding Among Wic And Non-Wic Mothers, Alison K. Ventura, Simone Teitelbaum

Kinesiology and Public Health

Objective: To explore the prevalence and correlates of maternal distraction during infant feeding within a sample of mothers enrolled or not in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Woman, Infants, and Children (WIC).

Design: Mothers kept diaries of their infants’ feeding patterns.

Participants: Mothers (n = 75) with infants aged ≤6 months.

Main Outcome Measures: Within the diaries, mothers recorded what else, if anything, they did during the feeding. Mothers also completed questionnaires on demographics, feeding styles, and infant temperament and eating behaviors.

Analysis: Mothers’ responses were coded into thematic categories. Feedings were classified as distracted when the mothers reported …

Associations Between Breastfeeding And Maternal Responsiveness: A Systematic Review Of The Literature, Alison K. Ventura

Kinesiology and Public Health

Recent recommendations and prevention programs have focused on the promotion of responsive feeding during infancy, but more research is needed to understand best practices for fostering responsive feeding during early life. The objective of this systematic review was to synthesize the accumulating bodies of evidence aimed at understanding associations between mothers' feeding experiences and responsive feeding in an attempt to clarify the nature of associations between feeding mode and responsive feeding. A literature search was conducted between January and October 2016; articles were collected from PsychINFO, Medline, and CINAHL, as well as from references in published research and reviews. Article …