The social conception of space of birth narrated by women with negative and traumatic birth experiences.

BACKGROUND: Many women experience giving birth as a negative or even as a traumatic event. Birth space and its occupants are fundamentally interconnected with negative and traumatic experiences, highlighting the importance of the social space of birth. AIM: To explore experiences of women who have had a negative or traumatic birth to identify the value, sense and meaning they assign to the social space of birth. METHODS: A feminist standpoint theory guided the research. Secondary discourse analysis of 51 qualitative data sets/transcripts from Dutch and Czech Republic postpartum women and 551 free-text responses of the Babies Born Better survey from women in the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Spain, and the Czech Republic. FINDINGS: Three themes and associated sub-themes emerged: 1. The institutional dimension of social space related to staff-imposed boundaries, rules and regulations surrounding childbirth, and a clinical atmosphere. 2. The relational dimension of social space related to negative women-healthcare provider interactions and relationships, including notions of dominance, power, authority, and control. 3. The personal dimension of social space related to how women internalised and were affected by the negative social dimensions including feelings of faith misplaced, feeling disconnected and disembodied, and scenes of horror. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that improving the quality of the social space of birth may promote better birth experiences for women. The institutional, relational, and personal dimensions of the social space of birth are key in the planning, organisation, and provision of maternity care.

Distinct maternal amino acids and oxylipins predict infant fat mass and fat-free mass indices.

Interested in maternal determinants of infant fat mass index (FMI) and fat-free mass index (FFMI), considered as predictors for later development of obesity, we analysed amino acids (AA) and oxylipins in maternal serum and breast milk (BM). FMI and FFMI were calculated in 47 term infants aged 4 months (T4). Serum AA were analysed in pregnancy (T1, T2) and 6-8 weeks postpartum (T3). At T3, AA and oxylipins were analysed in BM. Biomarker-index-associations were identified by regression analysis. Infant FMI (4.1 ± 1.31 kg/m2; MW ± SD) was predicted by T2 proline (R2 adj.: 7.6%, p = .036) and T3 BM 11-hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic-acid (11-HETE) and 13-hydroxy-docosahexaenoic-acid (13-HDHA; together:35.5% R2 adj., p < .001). Maternal peripartum antibiotics (AB) emerged as confounders (+AB: 23.5% higher FMI; p = .025). Infant FFMI (12.1 ± 1.19 kg/m2; MW ± SD) was predicted by histidine (R2 adj.: 14.5%, p < .001) and 17-HDHA (BM, R2 adj.:19.3%, p < .001), determined at T3. Confirmed in a larger cohort, the parameters could elucidate connections between maternal metabolic status, nutrition, and infant body development.

Investigating New Sensory Methods Related to Taste Sensitivity, Preferences, and Diet of Mother-Infant Pairs and Their Relationship With Body Composition and Biomarkers: Protocol for an Explorative Study.

BACKGROUND: Early experiences with different flavors play an important role in infant development, including food and taste acceptance. Flavors are already perceived in utero with the development of the taste and olfactory system and are passed on to the child through breast and bottle feeding. Therefore, the first 1000 days of life are considered a critical window for infant developmental programming. OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study is to investigate, both in the prenatal and postnatal period, taste sensitivity, preferences, and dietary diversity of mother-infant pairs. The explorative study design will also report on the impact of these variables on body composition (BC) and biomarkers. In contrast to conventional methods, this study involves long-term follow-up data collection from mother-infant pairs; moreover, the integration of audiovisual tools for recording infants' expressions pertaining to taste stimuli is a novelty of this study. Considering these new methodological approaches, the study aims to assess taste-related data in conjunction with BC parameters like fat-free mass or fat mass, biomarkers, and nutritional intake in infants and children. METHODS: Healthy pregnant women aged between 18 and 50 years (BMI≥18.5 kg/m2 to ≤30 kg/m2; <28 weeks of gestation) were recruited from January 2014 to October 2014. The explorative design implies 2 center visits during pregnancy (24-28 weeks of gestation and 32-34 weeks of gestation) and 2 center visits after delivery (6-8 weeks postpartum and 14-16 weeks postpartum) as well as follow-up visits at 1, 3-3.5, and 6 years after delivery. Data collection encompasses anthropometric and biochemical measurements as well as BC analyses with air displacement plethysmography, taste perception assessments, and multicomponent questionnaires on demographics, feeding practices, and nutritional and lifestyle behaviors. Audiovisual data from infants' reactions to sensory stimuli are collected and coded by trained staff using Baby Facial Action Coding and the Body Action Posture System. Birth outcomes and weight development are obtained from medical records, and additional qualitative data are gathered from 24 semistructured interviews. RESULTS: Our cohort represents a homogenous group of healthy women with stringent exclusion criteria. A total of 54 women met the eligibility criteria, whereas 47 mother-child pairs completed data collection at 4 center visits during and after pregnancy. Follow-up phases, data analyses, and dissemination of the findings are scheduled for the end of 2023. The study was approved by the ethics committee of the Medical University of Graz (EC No 26-066 ex 13/14), and all participants provided informed consent. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study could be useful for elucidating the connections between maternal and infant statuses regarding diet, taste, biomarkers, and prenatal and postnatal weight development. This study may also be relevant to the establishment of further diagnostic and interventional strategies targeting childhood obesity and early body fat development. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/37279.