Adaptive maternal feeding behaviors are sensitive and responsive to the infant and support the infant's participation in feeding. Adaptive infant behaviors help the infant to participate in the feeding within developmental capacities and to interact in a positive manner with the mother. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the contribution of the adaptiveness of early maternal feeding behavior to the adaptiveness of later infant feeding behavior, accounting for maternal depressive symptoms and neonatal health. Thirty-seven premature infants and their mothers were assessed in the special care nursery just before discharge and in their homes at 4 months postterm age. The adaptive quality of maternal and infant behavior was assessed using the Parent-Child Early Relational Assessment. Maternal depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiological Study-Depression Scale. Infant health was assessed using the Neonatal Health Index. Linear regression analyses revealed that the adaptiveness of maternal feeding behavior before special care nursery discharge contributed significantly to the adaptiveness of infant feeding behavior at 4 months postterm age, accounting for neonatal health and maternal depressive symptoms. Although further study of the relationship is needed, findings support development of interventions to enhance the adaptiveness of mothers' early feeding behaviors.
KeywordsMother-infant interaction; Infant feeding; Infant behavior; Mother behavior; Infant; Premature Feeding is one of the primary settings of interaction for mothers and their very young premature infants and of the infant's formation of an attachment relationship. During feeding, infants begin to construct internal working models of the self, mother, and the mother-infant relationship. When infants' signals for protection, nurturance, or comfort are recognized and responded to appropriately and consistently, they develop positive expectations about their mothers' present and subsequent availability and responsiveness. 1,2 These expectations support the infant in feeding adaptively and interacting more effectively with their mothers. However, the individual mother's psychological condition, in particular,
NIH-PA Author ManuscriptNIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript symptoms of depression, may affect her ability to consistently read and respond sensitively and responsively to her infant's signals. 3 Furthermore, the immature neuromotor system of premature infants makes it difficult for them to process stimuli and manage the stimulation of feeding and interaction appropriately. 4,5 The preterm infant's health in the neonatal period, including respiratory problems and the residuals of intraventricular bleeds, may interfere with sensory-motor functions that are important for feeding and interaction.Transition to home from a special care nursery (SCN) is difficult for both mothers and infants. Feeding interactions before this transition can often set the stage for how competent and adaptive a mo...