Parental reactions to a dying marmoset infant: conditional investment by the mother, but not the father

The reproductive costs of cooperatively breeding callitrichid mothers are remarkable, and they have to rely on fathers and other group members to raise their offspring. Consequently, maternal responsiveness to and investment in infants tends to be conditional, and especially sensitive to infant cues and signals of vigour. Since fathers do not bear the same excessive reproductive costs, their threshold to invest in a dying immature may be lower than in mothers. We present an anecdotal report of reactions of a first-time breeding pair of captive common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) to their dying infant. We found a male bias in all interactions with the dying infant that did not show typical cues of infant vigour. These results show that the dying infant elicited more investment by the father than the mother. Because of this conditional maternal investment, infants of cooperatively breeding primates may be under selection to advertise their viability, in particular to their mothers.

The Effect of a Voice-Centered Psycho-Educational Program on Maternal Self-Efficacy: A Feasibility Study

This study examined the effect of a brief psycho-educational program, Time Together, on maternal self-efficacy, mother-infant bonding, and mood/anxiety for community-based mothers. This program centered on maternal voice, timing of interplay, and recognition of infant cues. A convergent parallel mixed-methods design included quantitative measures: the Karitane Parenting Confidence Scale, the Mother-Infant Bonding Scale, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and State & Trait Anxiety Inventory, and a sequential qualitative analysis to elaborate on the quantitative findings. Significant changes on the Karitane Parenting Confidence Scale were found. Qualitative analysis of the participant interviews and reflective diaries from the two weeks following the psycho-educational program confirmed that participation enhanced mothers’ ability to understand their infant, to soothe their infant when distressed, to play and to establish an effective bedtime routine. This feasibility study indicated that this is a promising approach to improve early mother-infant interaction and maternal self-efficacy.

A Within-Subject Comparison of Maternal Sensitivity to Infant Cues and Infant Intake During Breastfeeding Versus Bottle-feeding Interactions

Objectives Bottle-fed infants are at higher risk for overfeeding and rapid weight gain compared to breastfed infants. However, given evidence illustrating sociodemographic and psychosocial differences between breastfeeding and bottle-feeding mothers, it is unclear whether feeding mode versus unmeasured covariates are the primary driver of differences between breast- and bottle-feeding. The objective of the present study was to use a within-subject experimental approach to describe whether and how breastfeeding versus bottle-feeding impacts early feeding interactions. Methods Mothers and their young infants (n = 46) visited our laboratory two times for counterbalanced, video-recorded feeding observations. Mothers breastfed their infants during one visit and bottle-fed their infants expressed breast milk during the other visit. Trained raters blinded to study aims later coded videos to assess maternal sensitivity to infant cues using the Nursing Child Assessment Parent-Child Interaction Feeding Scale. Infant intake was assessed by weighing the baby before and after the feeding. Maternal reported level of pressuring feeding style was assessed via the Infant Feeding Styles Questionnaire and tested as a possible moderator of effects of feeding mode on maternal sensitivity to infant cues and infant intake. Results Infants were 3.2 ± 1.4 months of age (range = 0.8–5.7 months). Mothers were 32.2 ± 4.2 years of age, 67.4% (n = 31) were non-Hispanic white, and 53.3% (n = 24) were primiparous. Mothers exhibited significantly lower sensitivity to infant cues during bottle- vs breastfeeding (P = .005). Infant intake did not differ between bottle- (87.4 ± 5.1 ml) and breastfeeding (90.7 ± 5.1 ml; P = .641). Effects of feeding mode on maternal sensitivity to infant cues or infant intake were not moderated by pressuring feeding style, but mothers who reported greater levels of pressuring feeding style fed their infants more during both conditions compared to mothers with lower levels of pressuring feeding style (P = .047). Conclusions Mothers were less sensitive to infant cues during bottle- compared to breastfeeding, but pressuring feeding style, rather than the act of bottle-feeding, per se, was associated with greater intakes across both modes of feeding. Funding Sources Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

The Paternal Transition Entails Neuroanatomic Adaptations that are Associated with the Father’s Brain Response to his Infant Cues

The transition into fatherhood is a life-changing event that requires substantial psychological adaptations. In families that include a father figure, sensitive paternal behavior has been shown to positively impact the infant’s development. Yet, studies exploring the neuroanatomic adaptations of men in their transition into fatherhood are scarce. The present study used surface-based methods to reanalyze a previously published prospective magnetic resonance imaging dataset comprised of 20 first-time fathers (preconception-to-postpartum) and 17 childless men. We tested if the transition into fatherhood entailed changes in cortical volume, thickness, and area and whether these changes were related to 2 indicators of paternal experience. Specifically, we tested if such changes were associated with (1) the baby’s age and/or (2) the fathers’ brain activity in response to pictures of their babies compared with an unknown baby. Results indicated that first-time fathers exhibited a significant reduction in cortical volume and thickness of the precuneus. Moreover, higher volume reduction and cortical thinning were associated with stronger brain responses to pictures of their own baby in parental brain regions. This is the first study showing preconception-to-postpartum neuroanatomical adaptations in first-time fathers associated with the father’s brain response to cues of his infant.

Predictors of Infant Care Competence Among Mothers With Postpartum Depression

Background/objective: Postpartum depression is linked to decreased quality mother-infant interactions and long-term negative impacts on children’s behavior and health. Infant care competence may be reduced by postpartum depression and other maternal or environmental variables. Thus, the objective of this study was to explain factors that contribute to perceived infant care competence among mothers with postpartum depression. Methods: Multiple regression analysis and correlational analysis were conducted to study associations between the predictors (depression severity, social support, child development, family functioning) and the outcome of perceived infant care competence among a peer support intervention study for mothers with postpartum depression (n = 55). Results: Child development, specifically communication ( P = .04), gross ( P = .00) and fine ( P = .00) motor skills, problem solving ( P = .00), and personal-social development ( P = .01), explained maternal perceptions of responsiveness, an aspect of infant care competence. The best-fit model was obtained for the responsiveness subscale, in which 37% of the variance was explained by mothers’ reports of infants’ fine motor skills ( P = .000) and nurturance ( P = .039) as an aspect of social support and family functioning ( P = .078). Conclusions: Recognition of the importance of infant development to perceived infant care competence, particularly mothers’ perceptions of infant responsiveness, may offer targets for intervention. Helping mothers identify infant cues and milestones that signal infant responsiveness may be beneficial. Moreover, social support and family functioning may be targets for intervention to promote perceived infant care competence in mothers affected by postpartum depression.