Maternal and Neonatal Hair Cortisol Levels and Psychological Stress Are Associated With Onset of Secretory Activation of Human Milk Production
Metadatos
Afficher la notice complèteDate
2019-01Referencia bibliográfica
Published version: DOI: 10.1097/ANC.0000000000000660
Résumé
Background: Several factors can influence the production of human milk.
Purpose: To assess the influence of maternal psychological stress, maternal cortisol
levels, and neonatal hair cortisol levels on the production of human milk.
Methods: A prospective study was conducted at 2 public health centers in Andalusia,
Spain. Participants were 60 pregnant women and their 60 neonates. Hair cortisol levels
and psychological stress (pregnancy-specific stress [PDQ], perceived stress [PSS]), was
evaluated during the third trimester and the postpartum period.
Results: Higher PDQ scores during the third trimester were associated with later human
milk production (P < 0.05). Higher PSS scores in the third trimester were associated
with later human milk production (P < 0.05). Higher postpartum maternal hair cortisol
levels were associated with a delayed secretory activation of human milk (P < 0.05).
Implications for Research: Future studies should study the influence of psychological
stress and cortisol levels on the variety of hormones involved in human milk
production.
Implications for Practice: Neonatal nurses and other health care providers are
encouraged to should be familiar with the level of maternal prenatal stress and how
much stress neonates were exposed to before birth.