Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Association of maternal depression with dietary intake, growth, and development of preterm infants: a cohort study in Beijing, China

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Frontiers of Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the association of maternal depression with nutrient intake, growth, and development of preterm infants. A cohort study of 201 infants was conducted in Beijing. Based on the gestational age of an infant and status of the mother, the infants were divided into four groups: non-depression-fullterm (64), non-depression-preterm (70), depression-fullterm (36), and depression-preterm (31). Data on sociodemographic characteristics, nutritional intake, growth, and developmental status of children at 8 months (corrected ages) were collected using a quantitative questionnaire, a 24-Hour Dietary Recall, anthropometric measurements, and the Bayley-III scale. A multivariate analysis was used to evaluate the effects of maternal depression and preterm birth on infant growth and development. The energy, protein, and carbohydrate intake in the depression group was lower than the recommended amounts. The depression preterm groups indicated the lowest Z-scores for length and weight and the lowest Bayley-III scores. Preterm infants of depressed mothers are at high risks of poor growth and development delay.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Weobong B, Ten Asbroek AH, Soremekun S, Danso S, Owusu-Agyei S, Prince M, Kirkwood BR. Determinants of postnatal depression in rural Ghana: findings from the don population based cohort study. Depress Anxiety 2015; 32(2): 108–119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. O’Hara MW, McCabe JE. Postpartum depression: current status and future directions. Annu Rev Clin Psychol 2013; 9(2): 379–407

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Qian Y, Yan X. Prevalence of postpartum depression in China: a systematic analysis. Chin J Prac Nurs (Zhongguo Shi Yong Hu Li Za Zhi) 2013; 29(12):1–3 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Rahman A, Iqbal Z, Bunn J, Lovel H, Harrington R. Impact of maternal depression on infant nutritional status and illness: a cohort study. Arch Gen Psychiatry 2004; 61(9): 946–952

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Hipwell AE, Goossens FA, Melhuish EC, Kumar R. Severe maternal psychopathology and infant-mother attachment. Dev Psychopathol 2000; 12(2): 157–175

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Lewinsohn PM, Olino TM, Klein DN. Psychosocial impairment in offspring of depressed parents. Psychol Med 2005; 35(10): 1493–1503

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. El-Behadli AF, Sharp C, Hughes SO, Obasi EM, Nicklas TA. Maternal depression, stress and feeding styles: towards a framework for theory and research in child obesity. Br J Nutr 2015; 113 Suppl: S55–71

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Singer LT, Fulton S, Davillier M, Koshy D, Salvator A, Baley JE. Effects of infant risk status and maternal psychological distress on maternal-infant interactions during the first year of life. J Dev Behav Pediatr 2003; 24(4): 233–241

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Rahman A, Harrington R, Bunn J. Can maternal depression increase infant risk of illness and growth impairment in developing countries? Child Care Health Dev 2002; 28(1): 51–56

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. World Health Organization. Almost one million children die each year due to complications of preterm birth. Many survivors may face a lifetime of disability, including learning disabilities and visual and hearing problems. 2014

  11. Wendell-Smith C. Estimation of fetal weight by ultrasound. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol 2000; 40(3): 361–362

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Ehrenkranz RA, Dusick AM, Vohr BR, Wright LL, Wrage LA, Poole WK. Growth in the neonatal intensive care unit influences neurodevelopmental and growth outcomes of extremely low birth weight infants. Pediatrics 2006; 117(4): 1253–1261

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. O’Connor DL, Khan S, Weishuhn K, Vaughan J, Jefferies A, Campbell DM, Asztalos E, Feldman M, Rovet J, Westall C, Whyte H; Postdischarge Feeding Study Group. Growth and nutrient intakes of human milk-fed preterm infants provided with extra energy and nutrients after hospital discharge. Pediatrics 2008; 121(4): 766–776

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Cooke RJ. Catch-up growth: implications for the preterm and term infant. Eur J Clin Nutr 2010; 64 Suppl1:S8–S10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Morgan C, Herwitker S, Badhawi I, Hart A, Tan M, Mayes K, Newland P, Turner MA. SCAMP: standardised, concentrated, additional macronutrients, parenteral nutrition in very preterm infants: a phase IV randomised, controlled exploratory study of macronutrient intake, growth and other aspects of neonatal care. BMC Pediatr 2011; 11(7): 53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Lee SH, Nurmatov UB, Nwaru BI, Mukherjee M, Grant L, Pagliari C. Effectiveness of mHealth interventions for maternal, newborn and child health in low- and middle-income countries: systematic review and meta-analysis. J Glob Health 2016; 6(1): 010401

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Sroufe LA. Emotional Development: The Organization of Emotional Life in the Early Years (Cambridge Studies in Social and Educational Development). New York: Cambridge University Press, 1996

    Book  Google Scholar 

  18. Lee DT, Yip SK, Chiu HF, Leung TY, Chan KP, Chau IO, Leung HC, Chung TK. Detecting postnatal depression in Chinese women. Validation of the Chinese version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Br J Psychiatry 1998; 172(5): 433–437

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Cox JL, Holden JM, Sagovsky R. Detection of postnatal depression. Development of the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Br J Psychiatry 1987; 150(6): 782–786

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Spitzer RL, Endicott J, Robins E. Research diagnostic criteria: rationale and reliability. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1978; 35(6): 773–782

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Yuexin Y, Guangya W, Xingchang P. China Food Composition 2004. Beijing: Peking University Medical Press, 2004

    Google Scholar 

  22. Kathleen V, Jamie Z, Ron D, Willis JO. Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development. Third Edition. JohnWiley & Sons, Inc., 2014

    Google Scholar 

  23. Anoop S, Saravanan B, Joseph A, Cherian A, Jacob KS. Maternal depression and low maternal intelligence as risk factors for malnutrition in children: a community based case-control study from South India. Arch Dis Child 2004; 89(4): 325–329

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Pridham K, Brown R, Clark R, Limbo RK, Schroeder M, Henriques J, Bohne E. Effect of guided participation on feeding competencies of mothers and their premature infants. Res Nurs Health 2005; 28 (3): 252–267

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Goulding AN, Rosenblum KL, Miller AL, Peterson KE, Chen YP, Kaciroti N, Lumeng JC. Associations between maternal depressive symptoms and child feeding practices in a cross-sectional study of low-income mothers and their young children. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2014; 11(1): 75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Singer LT, Davillier M, Preuss L, Szekely L, Hawkins S, Yamashita T, Baley J. Feeding interactions in infants with very low birth weight and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. J Dev Behav Pediatr 1996; 17(2): 69–76

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Pridham K, Lin CY, Brown R. Mothers’ evaluation of their caregiving for premature and full-term infants through the first year: contributing factors. Res Nurs Health 2001; 24(3): 157–169

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Embleton ND. Optimal protein and energy intakes in preterm infants. Early Hum Dev 2007; 83(12): 831–837

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Agostini F, Neri E, Dellabartola S, Biasini A, Monti F. Early interactive behaviours in preterm infants and their mothers: influences of maternal depressive symptomatology and neonatal birth weight. Infant Behav Dev 2014; 37(1): 86–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Premji SS. Ontogeny of the gastrointestinal system and its impact on feeding the preterm infant. Neonatal Netw 1998; 17(2): 17–24

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Mallan KM, Daniels LA, Wilson JL, Jansen E, Nicholson JM. Association between maternal depressive symptoms in the early post-natal period and responsiveness in feeding at child age 2 years. Matern Child Nutr 2015; 11(4): 926–935

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Feldman R, Weller A, Leckman JF, Kuint J, Eidelman AI. The nature of the mother’s tie to her infant: maternal bonding under conditions of proximity, separation, and potential loss. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 1999; 40(6): 929–939

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Aktar E, Mandell DJ, de Vente W, Majdandžić M, Raijmakers MEJ, Bögels SM. Infants’ temperament and mothers’, and fathers’ depression predict infants’ attention to objects paired with emotional faces. J Abnorm Child Psychol 2016; 44(5): 975–990

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Perra O, Phillips R, Fyfield R, Waters C, Hay DF. Does mothers’ postnatal depression influence the development of imitation? J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2015; 56(11): 1231–1238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Weissman MM, Wickramaratne P, Gameroff MJ, Warner V, Pilowsky D, Kohad RG, Verdeli H, Skipper J, Talati A. Offspring of depressed parents: 30 years later. Am J Psychiatry 2016; 173(10): 1024–1032

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Silventoinen K, Pitkäniemi J, Latvala A, Kaprio J, Yokoyama Y. Association between physical and motor development in childhood: a longitudinal study of Japanese twins. Twin Res Hum Genet 2014; 17(3): 192–198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Simopoulos AP. Dietary omega-3 fatty acid deficiency and high fructose intake in the development of metabolic syndrome, brain metabolic abnormalities, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Nutrients 2013; 5(8): 2901–2923

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Guellec I, Lapillonne A, Marret S, Picaud JC, Mitanchez D, Charkaluk ML, Fresson J, Arnaud C, Flamand C, Cambonie G, Kaminski M, Roze JC, Ancel PY. Effect of intra- and extrauterine growth on long-term neurologic outcomes of very preterm infants. J Pediatr 2016; 175:93–9 e1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Latal-Hajnal B, von Siebenthal K, Kovari H, Bucher HU, Largo RH. Postnatal growth in VLBW infants: significant association with neurodevelopmental outcome. J Pediatr 2003; 143(2): 163–170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Piek JP, Dawson L, Smith LM, Gasson N. The role of early fine and gross motor development on later motor and cognitive ability. Hum Mov Sci 2008; 27(5): 668–681

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Pina-Camacho L, Jensen SK, Gaysina D, Barker ED. Maternal depression symptoms, unhealthy diet and child emotional-behavioural dysregulation. Psychol Med 2015; 45(9): 1851–1860

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Ehrenkranz RA, Younes N, Lemons JA, Fanaroff AA, Donovan EF, Wright LL, Katsikiotis V, Tyson JE, Oh W, Shankaran S, Bauer CR, Korones SB, Stoll BJ, Stevenson DK, Papile LA. Longitudinal growth of hospitalized very low birth weight infants. Pediatrics 1999; 104(2 2 Pt 1): 280–289

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Teissèdre F, Chabrol H. Detecting women at risk for postnatal depression using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at 2 to 3 days postpartum. Can J Psychiatry 2004; 49(1): 51–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Hiltunen P, Raudaskoski T, Ebeling H, Moilanen I. Does pain relief during delivery decrease the risk of postnatal depression? Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2004; 83(3): 257–261

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Patel RR, Murphy DJ, Peters TJ. Operative delivery and postnatal depression: a cohort study. BMJ 2005; 330(7496): 879–881

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. de Tychey C, Briançon S, Lighezzolo J, Spitz E, Kabuth B, de Luigi V, Messembourg C, Girvan F, Rosati A, Thockler A, Vincent S. Quality of life, postnatal depression and baby gender. J Clin Nurs 2008; 17(3): 312–322

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Pan XF, Zhi-Ming LU, Xiao J. Prospective study on occurrence of postnatal depression and its psychosocial risk factors. Matern Child Health Care China (Zhongguo Fu You Bao Jian) 2004;19(9):28–30 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81202216) and the Beijing Higher Education Young Elite Teacher Project (No. YETP0059), China. We want to thank research teams from Peking University Third Hospital and Haidian Maternal & Child Health Hospital in Beijing for their hard work in orchestrating the field work and identifying study population. We also want to thank the family members who participated in this study and those who were excluded from the study.We are grateful for endeavors from each member in our study, including Hong Zhou, YanWang, Yao Feng, Yan Zhang, Ping Duan, Fang Ye, Wenxing Bai, Peng Li, Anqi Wang, Xi Wang, Shusheng Luo, Zhenghong Ren, and Chuyun Kang (Division of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Peking University), as well as Jing Sun (Menzies Health Institute Queensland and School of Medicine, Griffith University, Australia), Yongmei Chen, Qi Yan, Zhi Li (Haidian Maternal & Child Health Hospital in Beijing), Shan Lu, and Yuan Wei (Peking University Third Hospital).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China

    Han Wang, Hong Zhou, Yan Zhang & Yan Wang

  2. Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, QLD 4222, Australia

    Jing Sun

  3. School of Medicine, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, QLD 4222, Australia

    Jing Sun

Authors
  1. Han Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hong Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yan Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yan Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jing Sun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Yan Wang or Jing Sun.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wang, H., Zhou, H., Zhang, Y. et al. Association of maternal depression with dietary intake, growth, and development of preterm infants: a cohort study in Beijing, China. Front. Med. 12, 533–541 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11684-017-0591-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11684-017-0591-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation