Breastfeeding, Bed-Sharing, and Maternal Cortisol

Clinical Pediatrics
Clarissa D SimonMadeleine U Shalowitz

Abstract

Prior studies have found that close mother-child sleep proximity helps increase rates of breastfeeding, and breastfeeding itself is linked to better maternal and infant health. In this study, we examine whether breastfeeding and infant bed-sharing are related to daily rhythms of the stress-responsive hormone cortisol. We found that bed-sharing was related to flatter diurnal cortisol slopes, and there was a marginal effect for breastfeeding to predict steeper cortisol slopes. Furthermore, mothers who breastfeed but do not bed-share had the steepest diurnal cortisol slopes, whereas mothers who bed-shared and did not breastfeed had the flattest slopes (P < .05). These results were significant after controlling for subjective sleep quality, perceived stress, depression, socioeconomic status, race, and maternal age. Findings from this study indicate that infant parenting choices recommended for infants (breastfeeding and separate sleep surfaces for babies) may also be associated with more optimal stress hormone profiles for mothers.

References

Jan 1, 1989·Neuropsychobiology·C Kirschbaum, D H Hellhammer
Jun 1, 1987·The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science·J L CoxR Sagovsky
Dec 1, 1983·Journal of Health and Social Behavior·S CohenR Mermelstein
Aug 1, 1997·Pediatrics·J J McKennaC A Richard
Jan 10, 1998·Hormones and Behavior·A S FlemingC Corter
Jan 7, 1998·Pediatrics·L J Horwood, D M Fergusson
Nov 5, 1998·Psychoneuroendocrinology·A D Clements, C R Parker
Oct 16, 1999·Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine·S NakamuraM A Danello
Jun 22, 2000·Journal of the National Cancer Institute·S E SephtonD Spiegel
Oct 16, 2001·The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism·M HeinrichsD H Hellhammer
Jul 31, 2002·Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing : JOGNN·Maureen Wimberly GroerJean Hemphill
Aug 21, 2002·Stress : the International Journal on the Biology of Stress·Markus HeinrichsUlrike Ehlert
Aug 13, 2003·Birth·Helen L Ball
Dec 3, 2003·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·George Mastorakos, Ioannis Ilias
Jun 29, 2004·Psychoneuroendocrinology·Heather C AbercrombieDavid Spiegel
Sep 11, 2004·Psychoneuroendocrinology·Julienne E BowerJohn L Fahey
Oct 22, 2004·Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing : JOGNN·Stephanie I M Quillin, L Lee Glenn
Jul 16, 2005·Stress : the International Journal on the Biology of Stress·Mai Thanh TuClaire-Dominique Walker
Aug 16, 2005·Annals of Behavioral Medicine : a Publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine·Rosalind Chait BarnettKaren C Gareis
Feb 14, 2006·Scientific American·Craig Howard Kinsley, Kelly G Lambert
May 24, 2006·Psychoneuroendocrinology·Mai Thanh TuClaire-Dominique Walker
Sep 9, 2006·Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing : JOGNN·Maureen W Groer, Mitzi W Davis
Oct 3, 2006·Psychosomatic Medicine·Karen MatthewsTeresa Seeman
May 2, 2007·Psychosomatic Medicine·Julianne Holt-Lunstad, Patrick R Steffen
Aug 19, 2007·The Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing·Therese DoanKathryn A Lee
Dec 13, 2007·Nature Reviews. Neuroscience·Paula J Brunton, John A Russell
Dec 22, 2007·Journal of Behavioral Medicine·Cinnamon A Stetler, Gregory E Miller
Aug 4, 2009·Psychoneuroendocrinology·Emma K Adam, Meena Kumari
Sep 10, 2009·Developmental Psychobiology·W Roger Mills-KoonceMartha J Cox
Mar 1, 2012·Pediatrics·UNKNOWN Section on Breastfeeding
Sep 26, 2013·JAMA Pediatrics·Yi HuangSara B Fein
Jan 15, 2014·Pediatrics·Natalie SlopenJack P Shonkoff

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Apr 25, 2016·Sleep Medicine Reviews·Viara R Mileva-SeitzMaartje P C M Luijk
Mar 7, 2018·World Journal of Pediatrics : WJP·Tolga İnceAdem Aydın
Jan 14, 2020·Molecular Neurobiology·Kirsten GustTuong-Vi Nguyen
Feb 12, 2021·Journal of Human Lactation : Official Journal of International Lactation Consultant Association·Bárbara FigueiredoRaquel Costa

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

SPSS

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.