Abstract
The purpose of this study was to document maternal-infant feeding interactions of infants with various forms of fetal growth impairment (FGI) born to teenage and older mothers. 37 primiparous, Puerto Rican mothers and their one day old infants (≥37 wks. gestation) were studied. 3 forms of FGI were identified: small for date [birth weights below the 10th percentile (%)], low Ponderal Index (≤10th %), or short crown-heel length (≤10th %). 15 infants had FGI, 8 of whom were born to mothers ≤17 years of age. 22 infants had normal fetal growth, half were born to teenage mothers. The first feeding given by the mother was videotaped and later coded for feeding difficulties shown by the infant (e.g., choking, drowsiness) or mother (e.g., interrupts feeding). There were more feeding difficulties if the infant was FGI or mother was a teenager. FGI infants were more fussy (p<.05) and drowsy (p<.001) than non-FGI infants. Infants of teenage mothers choked more often than infants of older mothers (p<.07). Teenage mothers also pulled the nipple slightly out of the infant's mouth more often than older mothers (p<.01). Adult mothers of FGI infants expressed more worrisome comments about the infant's behaviors (p<.001), indicating more sensitivity to their infant's feeding difficulties. This study shows the independent contribution of both FGI & adolescent parenting to possible feeding problems.
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Coll, C., Lester, B., Valcarcel, M. et al. FEEDING INTERACTIONS OF FETALLY MALNOURISHED INFANTS BORN TO TEENAGE AND OLDER MOTHERS. Pediatr Res 18 (Suppl 4), 96 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00018
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00018