Mother-infant bonding is not associated with feeding type: a community study sample

Abstract Background Bonding refers to emotions and cognitions towards one’s infant. Breastfeeding is believed to facilitate bonding, yet only a handful of studies have empirically tested this assertion. This study aimed to confirm whether a positive association between breastfeeding and bonding exists and whether breastfeeding may be protective against the negative consequences of mood and sleep disturbances on bonding. Method A cross-sectional survey was administered to a convenience sample of Israeli mothers of infants ages 1–9 months. The main outcome measures were breastfeeding history, bonding (Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire, PBQ), mood (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, EPDS) and sleep (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI). Results Two hundred seventy-one mothers (21–46 years) completed the survey. 65.7% reported current breastfeeding, 22.1% past breastfeeding, 12.2% never nursed. The PBQ correlated with both the EPDS and PSQI. Breastfeeding was associated with greater daytime fatigue, but not with any other sleep problem, and was not associated with bonding. This negative result was confirmed with Bayesian analysis demonstrating that the probability for the null hypothesis was 4.5 times greater than the hypothesized effect. Further, hierarchical regression revealed a positive relationship between bonding, daytime fatigue and depression symptoms only among women who were currently breastfeeding. Conclusions These findings suggest that among healthy mothers, breastfeeding may not be a central factor in mother-infant bonding, nor is it protective against the negative impact of mood symptoms and bonding difficulties. Theoretical and methodological bases of these findings are discussed.https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/148570/1/12884_2019_Article_2264.pd

In Vitro Models Using the Human Placenta to Study Fetal Exposure to Drugs

Over the recent years there has been a gradual rise in the use of pharmaceuticals during pregnancy. Knowledge on placental drug transfer and metabolism has increased during the past decades as well. Investigation of the transplacental transfer of any therapeutically useful drug is essential to the understanding of its metabolic processes and is a prerequisite for its use during pregnancy. The purpose of this review is to give insight on the various techniques that have been developed to evaluate transplacental transfer of drugs and xenobiotics

Was the Military Operation “Protective Edge” a Risk Factor for Pregnancy Complications?

Objective During July–August 2014, the military operation “Protective Edge” presented Israel with a threat of missile attacks. We aimed to investigate the influence of the “Protective Edge” operation on the rate of pregnancy complications among the population exposed to missile attacks, compared to the population not exposed. Study Design This was a retrospective study. Pregnancy outcomes were compared between women who during pregnancy were exposed to the stress of the military operation (exposed group, n=4,673) and gave birth at the Wolfson Medical Center, and women who gave birth in the previous year (unexposed group, n=4,735). Results Rates of pregnancy complications did not differ between the groups. Conclusion Exposure to environmental stress during pregnancy, for a period of almost two months, was not found to be associated with increased risk for pregnancy complications

The association between abnormal coagulation testing in preeclampsia, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and placental histopathology

Objective: We aimed to determine whether abnormal coagulation laboratory testing results in preeclampsia, are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and placental histopathology lesions. Methods: Demographic, labor, laboratory-testing, and placental histopathology reports of pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia were compared between those with and without abnormal coagulation profile (ACP). Results: Of 348 cases of preeclampsia 16.1% had ACP. There were no differences between the groups in GA at delivery, severe features, placental-abruption, SGA, composite adverse neonatal outcome and placental histopathology lesions. Conclusion: ACP in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia was not associated with any of the studied outcomes. Our data question the usefulness of routine coagulation tests in the initial assessment of women presenting with preeclampsia