Female adolescents' early life stress and body mass index: Differential effects of anger and anxiety in response to rejection.

INTRODUCTION: Early life stress is linked to childhood obesity. As children enter adolescence, early life stress may be associated with increased rejection sensitivity, resulting in activation of behavioral and physiological changes that contribute to higher body mass index (BMI). Understanding the potential influence of rejection sensitivity on the association between early life stress and BMI is important to examine in female adolescents. For this secondary data analysis, we hypothesized that female adolescents with greater early life stress and greater rejection sensitivity would exhibit higher BMI-for-age 12 months later. METHODS: Seventy-eight adolescents (Mage = 13.1 years; 100% female sex; MBMI = 23.2 kg/m2) in the United States completed study procedures from 2012 to 2016. Among these procedures, the Psychosocial Schedule was used to assess cumulative early life stress and the Children's Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire was used to assess anger and anxiety in response to rejection. Twelve months later, height and weight were measured to derive BMI-for-age. RESULTS: Higher early life stress was associated with higher BMI-for-age among female adolescents with low rejection-provoked anger (1 SD below the mean). However, this association was not observed among female adolescents with high rejection-provoked anger (1 SD above the mean). Finally, there was no significant interaction between early life stress and rejection-provoked anxiety in predicting BMI-for-age. CONCLUSIONS: Experiencing early life stress may interact with rejection-provoked anger, but not anxiety, to predict BMI-for-age. Findings inform a developmental perspective of how rejection sensitivity may influence the association between early life stress and early cardiometabolic risk.

A Longitudinal Study of Respiratory Mechanics in Pregnant Women with Obesity and Overweight.

PURPOSE: Respiratory mechanics and the role of sex hormones in pregnancy are not well elucidated. We examined longitudinal and positional changes in lung mechanics in pregnancy and investigated the role of sex hormones. METHODS: A longitudinal study enrolled 135 women with obesity in early pregnancy. Fifty-nine percent of women identified as White; median body mass index at enrollment was 34.4 kg/m2. Women with respiratory disease were excluded. We obtained measurements of airway resistance and respiratory system reactance in various positions using impedance oscillometry and sex hormones in early and late pregnancy. RESULTS: With pregnancy progression, there was a significant increase in resonant frequency (Fres) (p = 0.012), integrated area of low frequency reactance (AX) (p = 0.0012) and R5-R20Hz (p = 0.038) in the seated position, and a significant increase in R5Hz (p = 0.000), Fres (p = 0.001), AX (p < 0.001 = 0.000), and R5-R20Hz (p = 0.014) in the supine position. Compared to the seated position, the supine position was associated with a significant increase in R5Hz, R20Hz, X5Hz, Fres, and AX in early (p-values < 0.026) and late pregnancy (p-values ≤ 0.001). Changes in progesterone levels between early and late pregnancy predicted the change in R5, Fres, and AX (p-values ≤ 0.043). CONCLUSION: Resistive and elastic loads increase with pregnancy progression and a change in body position from seated to supine increases resistive and elastic loads in both early and late pregnancies. The increase in airway resistance is primarily related to an increase in peripheral rather than central airways resistance. There was an association between the change in progesterone levels and airway resistance.

Posttraumatic stress disorder, diurnal cortisol, and ambulatory blood pressure in early and late pregnancy.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects 1 in 20 reproductive-aged women and is associated with cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. The pathophysiology linking PTSD to cardiovascular disease in nonpregnant adults is proposed to include hypothalamic and autonomic dysregulation; however, the pathways explaining this association in pregnancy are unclear. We examined diurnal cortisol and ambulatory blood pressure (BP) among 254 pregnant women at approximately 12 and 32 gestational weeks. Participants were, on average, 31 years old (SD = 5), 24.4% reported their ethnicity as Hispanic, and 62.2% reported their race as White. PTSD symptoms were measured using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Hierarchical linear regression analyses were performed to examine associations pregnancy between PTSD and cortisol at awakening, 30 min after awakening, and bedtime in early and late pregnancy, as well as associations between PTSD symptoms and daytime and nighttime systolic (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) and BP variability. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to test associations between PTSD symptoms and BP dipping. The results showed a positive association between PTSD symptoms and nighttime BP and BP variability at 32 gestational weeks, ∆R2 = .036-.067. PTSD symptoms were negatively associated with awakening cortisol at 12 gestational weeks in unadjusted models. These findings contribute to understanding the associations between PTSD and adverse cardiovascular conditions in pregnancy. More research is needed to replicate these findings and examine whether PTSD interventions are effective at modifying pathways and decreasing the risk for cardiovascular complications in pregnancy.

Adolescent girls' cardiovascular responses to peer rejection: exploring the impact of early life stress.

Detrimental effects of early life stress on cardiovascular health are evident in adolescence. Cardiovascular reactivity and recovery in response to interpersonal stress may be a mechanism. This study aimed to evaluate if adolescent girls with higher early life stress demonstrated greater cardiovascular reactivity and slower recovery to peer rejection. A sample of 92 adolescent girls (age: M = 13.24) self-reported early life stressors. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate (HR) were continuously measured before, during, and after a laboratory peer rejection paradigm. Counter to hypotheses, adolescent girls with higher early life stress had lower, not higher, HR during the recovery period. Early life stress was not associated with SBP or DBP recovery. Additionally, early life stress was not associated with SBP, DBP, or HR reactivity. Future research is needed to assess if blunted cardiovascular reactivity to interpersonal rejection during adolescence is a mechanism linking early life stress and later cardiovascular disease risk in women.

Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder are Associated with Altered Glucose Parameters in Early and Late Gestation.

OBJECTIVE: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with increased risk for insulin resistance and the development of diabetes outside of pregnancy. In pregnancy, emerging evidence suggests that PTSD is associated with increased risk for gestational diabetes; however, it is not yet known how PTSD is associated with disruptions in glucose processing across gestation. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to test associations between PTSD symptoms and glucose parameters in early and late gestation among pregnant people without a history of pregestational diabetes. STUDY DESIGN: Two 34 participants were included in these analyses. PTSD symptoms were measured using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) in early gestation. Fasting blood samples were collected at approximately 12 and 32 gestational weeks and were used to calculate ß-cell function and insulin sensitivity. RESULTS: Participants were 31 years old (standard deviation [SD] = 6) with body mass index (BMI) of 36 kg/m2 (SD = 7) at enrollment, 26% reported their ethnicity as Hispanic, 62% reported their race as White, 17% Black, 2% Asian, 3% Native American, 9% more than one race, and 11% unknown/not reported. Hierarchical linear regression analyses revealed that, after adjusting for several covariates including maternal age, race, ethnicity, BMI, apnea hypopnea index, and depressive symptoms, PTSD symptoms were positively associated with ß-cell function in early (ß = 0.230, p = 0.016) and late gestation (ß = 0.238, p = 0.037). CONCLUSION: Higher PTSD symptoms were associated with greater insulin secretion over pregnancy in this sample. More research is needed to replicate these findings and evaluate the effects of treatment of PTSD on mitigating the risk for gestational diabetes. KEY POINTS: · We examined associations among symptoms of PTSD and glucose parameters over pregnancy.. · Symptoms of PTSD were positively associated with ß-cell function over pregnancy.. · Symptoms of PTSD were not associated with insulin resistance over pregnancy..

Dispositional Optimism, Mode of Delivery, and Perceived Labor Control among Recently Delivered Parturients.

OBJECTIVE: Dispositional optimism (DO) is an understudied transdiagnostic resilience factor among peripartum individuals. Low DO is associated with increased fear and pain in labor and increased rates of emergent cesarean delivery, but it is unknown whether DO is associated with perceived control over the labor process. STUDY DESIGN: This a planned secondary analysis of a prospective observational cohort of term parturients (n = 164) who were recruited in July and August 2021 during their delivery hospitalization at a single, tertiary medical center. Participants completed a baseline demographic survey prior to delivery and then completed evaluations of DO (Revised Life-Orientation Test [LOT-R]) and control over the labor process (Labor Agentry Scale [LAS]) during their postpartum hospitalization. DO was dichotomized into low and high by score of ≤14 or >14 on LOT-R, respectively, and labor agentry scores were compared between groups. Maternal demographics, pregnancy, and delivery characteristics were compared by DO status. Multivariable regression was performed, adjusting for known confounders (induction, labor analgesia, and mode of delivery). RESULTS: Demographic, pregnancy, and neonatal characteristics were similar between those with low compared with high DO. People with low DO had significantly higher rates of cesarean section (44 vs. 24%, p = 0.02) and overall had lower LAS scores (139.4 vs. 159.4, p < 0.001), indicating that they felt less control over their labor process than those with high DO. In the multivariable regression, those with low DO had higher odds of a low LAS score after controlling for induction, labor analgesia, and mode of delivery (adjusted odds ratio = 1.29, 95% confidence interval: 1.20-1.39). CONCLUSION: People with low DO had significantly lower perceived control over their labor, even after controlling for differences in mode of delivery. Interventions to alter DO may be an innovative way to improve birth experience and its associated perinatal mental health morbidities. KEY POINTS: · It is unknown if there is an association between DO and perceived labor control.. · People with low DO had higher rates of cesarean delivery and lower perceived labor control.. · Altering DO may be a novel mechanism for improving birth experience..

Exploring the Impact of Maternal and Paternal Acceptance on Adolescent Girls' Emotion Regulation.

Maternal acceptance is associated with youth emotion regulation (a correlate of depression among adolescent girls); however, less is known about the impact of fathers. In this prospective study, we examined effects of maternal and paternal acceptance on youth sadness inhibition (a facet of emotion dysregulation) among adolescent girls (n = 82; Mage = 13.28; 43% from minoritized racial/ethnic groups) over 1 year. Youth varied on depression risk, which was assessed via clinical diagnostic interviews. Bivariate results showed that maternal acceptance was associated with lower youth sadness inhibition at baseline and 1-year follow-up, while paternal acceptance was only associated with lower youth sadness inhibition at 1-year follow-up. Step-wise regressions showed that paternal acceptance was inversely associated with youth sadness inhibition over time, above and beyond effects of youth age, baseline sadness inhibition, depression risk, and maternal acceptance. Findings highlight the importance of examining both mothers' and fathers' impact on adolescent girls' development of emotion regulation.

Early life stress and latent trait cortisol in adolescent girls: a prospective examination.

Early life stress (ELS) may become embedded into an individual's stress physiology, changing their hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis in an enduring, trait-like fashion. Cortisol is often utilized to investigate HPA-axis function. However, for "trait" cortisol to be a useful construct, it needs to be internally consistent within measurement occasions and show temporal stability of this reliability. These estimates of physiometrics are rarely tested with biological variables such as cortisol. Identifying reliable and stable individual differences in cortisol may be particularly important when examining questions related to the long-term impact of ELS on HPA-axis function. Using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to model latent trait cortisol (LTC) may be a useful statistical approach to capture trait-like indexes of HPA-axis functioning. CFA identifies commonalities among repeated cortisol samples to differentiate characteristic patterns (i.e. a trait) from day-to-day or state variation and measurement error. It is unclear whether LTC estimates are stable prospectively, or if ELS is prospectively associated with LTC. Therefore, we derived LTC factors for 84 adolescent girls (ages 10-17 years) using two-morning salivary cortisol samples, collected sequentially for three days at baseline and again at a one-year follow-up. LTC was internally consistent at both assessments and stable over one year. Greater exposure to ELS was associated with lower LTC over a one-year follow-up. Findings support LTC modeling as a useful strategy to estimate trait-like HPA-axis functioning and suggest that exposure to ELS is associated with lower trait-like cortisol.

Maternal History of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to study the association between maternal history of childhood adversity and blood pressure in pregnancy. METHODS: A total of 127 pregnant women completed measures of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and prenatal stress between June 2015 and April 2019. At 11 weeks' gestation (range, 6-17 weeks), we measured 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure. All women were considered to be at risk for pregnancy complications due to elevated body mass index and self-reporting snoring in pregnancy. RESULTS: Women were, on average, 30 years old (range, 19-40 years), and average (standard deviation) body mass index in this sample was 34 (7) kg/m (range, 27-55 kg/m). Higher ACE scores were associated with higher nighttime blood pressure (systolic blood pressure: ß = 0.23, p = .013; diastolic blood pressure: ß = 0.22, p = .028). There were no significant associations between the ACE score and daytime blood pressure. Women with four or more ACEs were more likely to display nocturnal blood pressure nondipping (odds ratio = 3.97, 95% confidence interval = 1.38-11.40). Associations between ACE and nocturnal blood pressure remained significant after adjusting for symptoms of prenatal stress. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that experiences of childhood adversity are associated with elevated nocturnal blood pressure and loss of a typical decline in blood pressure between day and night.

Sleep Disordered Breathing, a Novel, Modifiable Risk Factor for Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Pathophysiology of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), especially preeclampsia, has not been fully elucidated. Most trials aimed at the prevention of preeclampsia have failed to show significant benefit and investigation of novel, modifiable risk factors is sorely needed. Sleep disordered breathing (SDB), a group of disorders for which treatments are available, meets these criteria. SDB impacts about a third of all pregnancies and is associated with hypertension in the general non-pregnant population. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies have shown a high prevalence of SDB, especially in complicated pregnancies. Several studies have shown that pregnant women with SDB have a higher risk for developing HDP, and these two disorders are associated with similar maternal long-term cardiovascular outcomes. Based on limited animal models of gestational intermittent hypoxia and human studies, SDB and HDP share similar risk factors and some pathophysiological mechanisms. However, there is paucity of studies addressing causality of this association and identifying therapeutic targets for intervention. Maternal SDB represents a novel and modifiable risk factor of HDP. Further studies are needed in order to establish the exact mechanisms underlying this association and to identify specific areas for clinical interventions.

Maternal witness to intimate partner violence during childhood and prenatal family functioning alter newborn cortisol reactivity.

Witnessing intimate partner violence (IPV) during childhood is a risk factor for mental health problems across the lifespan. Less is known about the intergenerational consequences of witnessing IPV, and if the current family climate buffers intergenerational effects of witnessing violence. The mother's experience of witnessing IPV against her own mother during childhood, prenatal family dysfunction, and prenatal perceived stress were examined as predictors of offspring cortisol in the first month of life (N = 218 mother-infant dyads). Mothers reported on witnessing IPV in their childhoods, prenatal family dysfunction, and prenatal perceived stress in pregnancy. At 2 days and again at 1 month postpartum, infants engaged in a neurobehavioral exam to assess infant cortisol reactivity. Infants whose mothers witnessed IPV in childhood exhibited alterations in their baseline cortisol and their cortisol reactivity at 1 month of age, whereas family dysfunction during pregnancy was associated with baseline cortisol and cortisol reactivity at 2 days of age. Prenatal perceived stress was not associated with infant cortisol at 2 days or 1 month. Prenatal family dysfunction and perceived stress did not moderate effects of the mother's experience of witnessing IPV. Results support the view that maternal experiences in childhood and during pregnancy exert intergenerational effects on the HPA stress response system.

Residual Renal Function and Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Peritoneal Dialysis: A Pilot Study.

PURPOSE: Obstructive sleep apnea is common in patients with end-stage renal disease, and there is increasing evidence that clinical factors specific to end-stage renal disease contribute pathophysiologically to obstructive sleep apnea. It is not known whether circumstances specific to dialysis modality, in this case peritoneal dialysis, affect obstructive sleep apnea. Our study aimed to investigate the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea in the peritoneal dialysis population and the relevance of dialysis-specific measures and kidney function in assessing this bidirectional relationship. METHODS: Participants with end-stage renal disease who were treated with nocturnal automated peritoneal dialysis for at least 3 months were recruited from a hospital-based dialysis center. Laboratory measures of dialysis adequacy, peritoneal membrane transporter status, and residual renal function were gathered by chart review. Patients participated in a home sleep apnea test using a level III sleep apnea monitor. RESULTS: Of fifteen participants recruited, 33% had obstructive sleep apnea diagnosed by apnea-hypopnea index ≥ 5 events per hour of sleep. Renal creatinine clearance based upon 24-h urine collection was negatively correlated with apnea-hypopnea index (ρ = - 0.63, p = 0.012). There were no significant associations between anthropometric measures, intra-abdominal dwell volume, or peritoneal membrane transporter status and obstructive sleep apnea measures. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea and sleep disturbances is high in participants receiving peritoneal dialysis. Elevated apnea-hypopnea index is associated with lower residual renal function, whereas dialysis-specific measures such as intra-abdominal dwell volume and peritoneal membrane transporter status do not correlate with severity of obstructive sleep apnea.

Correction to: Residual Renal Function and Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Peritoneal Dialysis: A Pilot Study.

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake in the article title. The correct article title is "Residual Renal Function and Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Peritoneal Dialysis: A Pilot Study".

Maternal Sleep Quality and Diurnal Cortisol Regulation Over Pregnancy.

Poor sleep in pregnancy is related to adverse neonatal health. Elevated maternal cortisol has been proposed as a pathway, yet the association in pregnancy is not well understood. The goals of the current study were to examine associations between (a) sleep and cortisol, (b) sleep, cortisol, and neonatal outcomes, and (c) variables that could explain these associations. Two hundred pregnant women completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI; Buysse, Reynolds, Monk, Berman, & Kupfer, 1989) and provided diurnal salivary cortisol samples at two times over pregnancy. Poor sleep quality was associated with greater evening cortisol concentrations at 36 weeks' gestation. This association was mediated by anxiety symptoms. Higher evening cortisol at 36 weeks' gestation was associated with shorter gestation.

Maternal pre-pregnancy obesity and gestational weight gain influence neonatal neurobehaviour.

Maternal weight before and during pregnancy is associated with offspring neurobehaviour in childhood. We investigated maternal weight prior to and during pregnancy in relation to neonatal neurobehaviour. We hypothesized that maternal obesity and excessive gestational weight gain would be associated with poor neonatal attention and affective functioning. Participants (n = 261) were recruited, weighed and interviewed during their third trimester of pregnancy. Pre-pregnancy weight was self-reported and validated for 210 participants, with robust agreement with medical chart review (r = 0.99). Neurobehaviour was measured with the NICU Network Neurobehavioural Scale (NNNS) administered on Days 2 and 32 postpartum. Maternal exclusion criteria included severe or persistent physical or mental health conditions (e.g. chronic disease or diagnoses of Bipolar Disorder or Psychotic Spectrum Disorders), excessive substance use, and social service/foster care involvement or difficulty understanding English. Infants were from singleton, full-term (37-42 weeks gestation) births with no major medical concerns. Outcome variables were summary scores on the NNNS (n = 75-86). For women obese prior to pregnancy, those gaining in excess of Institute of Medicine guidelines had infants with poorer regulation, lower arousal and higher lethargy. There were no main effects of maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index on neurobehaviour. Women gaining above Institute of Medicine recommendations had neonates with better quality of movement. Additional studies to replicate and extend results past the neonatal period are needed. Results could support underlying mechanisms explaining associations between maternal perinatal weight and offspring outcomes. These mechanisms may inform future prevention/intervention strategies. © 2016 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Maternal history of adoption or foster care placement in childhood: a risk factor for preterm birth.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to assess the impact of maternal history of adoption or foster care placement in childhood on the risk for preterm birth (PTB), controlling for other known risk factors for PTB. STUDY DESIGN: Participants were 302 pregnant women from a low-income, diverse sample drawn from 2 intensive prospective studies of maternal mood and behavior and fetal and infant development. Gestational age was determined by best obstetric estimate. Maternal history of adoption or foster care placement prior to age 18 years was determined by maternal report. Other maternal characteristics, including maternal medical conditions, psychosocial characteristics, and health behaviors, were measured during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. RESULTS: The odds of delivering preterm (gestational age <37 weeks) were approximately 4 times greater among women with a history of childhood adoption or foster care placement compared with women who were never placed out of the home during childhood. This association remained significant after adjusting for other known risk factors for PTB including maternal medical conditions, psychosocial characteristics, and negative health behaviors in pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that a history of adoption/foster care placement is an important risk factor for PTB and may be comparable with other established risk factors for PTB including prior history of PTB, body mass index, African-American race, and advanced maternal age. More studies are needed to understand why women with placement histories may be at increased risk to deliver preterm.

The relationship between maternal-fetal attachment and cigarette smoking over pregnancy.

Cigarette smoking during pregnancy is one of the most preventable causes of infant morbidity and mortality, yet 80 % of women who smoked prior to pregnancy continue to smoke during pregnancy. Past studies have found that lower maternal-fetal attachment predicts smoking status in pregnancy, yet past research has not examined whether maternal-fetal attachment predicts patterns or quantity of smoking among pregnant smokers. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between maternal-fetal attachment and patterns of maternal smoking among pregnant smokers. We used self-reported and biochemical markers of cigarette smoking in order to better understand how maternal-fetal attachment relates to the degree of fetal exposure to nicotine. Fifty-eight pregnant smokers participated in the current study. Women completed the Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale, reported weekly smoking behaviors throughout pregnancy using the Timeline Follow Back interview, and provided a saliva sample at 30 and 35 weeks gestation and 1 day postpartum to measure salivary cotinine concentrations. Lower maternal-fetal attachment scores were associated with higher salivary cotinine at 30 weeks gestation and 1 day postpartum. As well, women who reported lower fetal attachment reported smoking a greater maximum number of cigarettes per day, on average, over pregnancy. Lower maternal-fetal attachment is associated with greater smoking in pregnancy. Future research might explore whether successful smoking cessation programs improve maternal assessments of attachment to their infants.

Maternal sleep disordered breathing and offspring growth outcome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Sleep disordered breathing is extremely common in pregnancy and is a risk factor for maternal complications. Animal models demonstrate that intermittent hypoxia causes abnormal fetal growth. However, there are conflicting data on the association between maternal sleep disordered breathing and offspring growth in humans. We investigated this association by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sixty-three manuscripts, and total study population of 67, 671, 110 pregnant women were included. Thirty-one studies used subjective methods to define sleep disordered breathing, 24 applied objective methods and eight used international codes. Using a random effects model, habitual snoring, defined by subjective methods, and obstructive sleep apnea, diagnosed by objective methods, were associated with an increased risk for large for gestational age (OR 1.46; 95%CI 1.02-2.09 and OR 2.19; 95%CI 1.63-2.95, respectively), while obstructive sleep apnea, identified by international codes, was associated with an increased risk for small for gestational age newborns (OR 1.28; 95%CI 1.02-1.60). Our results support that maternal sleep disordered breathing is associated with offspring growth, with differences related to the type of disorder and diagnostic methods used. Future studies should investigate underlying mechanisms and whether treatment of sleep disordered breathing ameliorates the neonatal growth.

The Impact of Mindfulness Treatment on Maternal Inflammation and Fetal Neurodevelopment Among Participants with Histories of Hypertensive Disorders.

This was a secondary analysis of a prenatal mindfulness training (MT) RCT versus treatment as usual (TAU) on neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), a measure of maternal inflammation, and fetal head circumference. Fifteen participants were randomized to MT and 14 to TAU. NLR in third trimester was significantly lower in the MT group (F = 7.11, p = 0.019) relative to those in TAU. Higher NLR values in second (r = -0.644, p = 0.013) and third trimesters (r = -0.601, p = 0.030) were associated with lower fetal HC%. There was no group difference in fetal HC%. A future, fully powered study is needed to replicate these findings. Clinical Trials Number: NCT03679117.

Maternal History of Childhood Maltreatment and Brain Responses to Infant Cues Across the Postpartum Period.

Adults with histories of childhood maltreatment (CM) are more likely to display problematic parenting behaviors. The goal of this study was to examine changes in maternal brain activation to negative infant cues over the early postpartum period among new mothers with and without histories of CM, as this is a period of immense neuroplasticity in the maternal brain. CM was measured using the Adverse Childhood Experiences Scale. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) conducted at approximately 5 and 13 weeks postpartum measured brain responses to own and unfamiliar infant cues in primiparous women. Women with histories of CM displayed increasing activation in the anterior cingulate cortex, and greater increases in anterior cingulate cortex activation was associated with maternal reports of less regulatory capacity in their infants. Preliminary results suggest that new mothers with CM histories display greater brain responses to negative infant cues compared to new mothers without CM histories. Women with CM histories may benefit from additional supports during the transition to parenthood.