Effects of relaxation therapy on maternal psychological status and infant growth following late preterm and early-term delivery: a randomized controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether relaxation therapy could reduce maternal stress and improve infant growth, behavior, and breastfeeding outcomes after late preterm and early-term delivery.
Results Summary
The study found that relaxation therapy significantly reduced maternal perceived stress and improved infant weight gain, particularly in female infants. However, the findings need confirmation in larger and more diverse populations.
Population
Healthy Chinese primiparous mother-infant pairs after late preterm or early-term delivery (34+0-37+6 gestation weeks).
Effective Dosage
Listening to relaxation meditation at least once a day.
Duration
8 weeks postpartum.
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
relaxation meditation | decrease | maternal perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale score) | healthy Chinese primiparous mother-infant pairs after late preterm (LP) or early-term (ET) delivery | mean difference = 2.65; 95% CI: 0.8, 4.5 | significantly greater reduction | #1 |
relaxation meditation | increase | infant weight standard deviation score | healthy Chinese primiparous mother-infant pairs after late preterm (LP) or early-term (ET) delivery | mean difference = 0.51; 95% CI: 0.2, 0.9 | significantly greater infant weight standard deviation score gain | #2 |
relaxation meditation | increase | weight gain | female infants | - | greater effects on weight gain | #3 |
relaxation meditation | increase | milk energy | mothers of female infants | - | significantly higher milk energy observed | #4 |
BACKGROUND: Maternal stress is one modifiable variable that could influence mother-infant signaling and negatively affect breastfeeding and infant growth. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to test the hypothesis that relaxation therapy would reduce maternal stress and improve infant growth, behavior, and breastfeeding outcomes after late preterm (LP) and early-term (ET) delivery. METHODS: A single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted in healthy Chinese primiparous mother-infant pairs after LP or ET delivery (34+0-37+6 gestation weeks). Mothers were randomly assigned to the intervention group (IG, listening to relaxation meditation at least once a day) or control group (CG, normal care). Primary outcomes-changes in maternal stress (perceived stress scale), anxiety (Beck Anxiety Inventory), and infant weight and length standard deviation score-were assessed at 1 wk and 8 wks postpartum. Secondary outcomes-breast milk energy and macronutrient composition, maternal breastfeeding attitudes, infant behaviors (3-d diary), and 24-hour milk intake-were assessed at 8 wks. RESULTS: In total, 96 mother-infant pairs were recruited. There was a significantly greater reduction in maternal perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale score) (mean difference [MD] = 2.65; 95% CI: 0.8, 4.5) and significantly greater infant weight standard deviation score gain (MD = 0.51; 95% CI: 0.2, 0.9) from 1 wk to 8 wks in the IG than those in the CG. Exploratory analyses showed a significant interaction between intervention and sex, with greater effects on weight gain in female infants. Mothers of female infants used the intervention more frequently with significantly higher milk energy observed at 8 wks. CONCLUSIONS: The relaxation meditation tape is a simple, effective practical tool that could easily be used in clinical settings to support breastfeeding mothers after LP and ET delivery. The findings need confirmation in larger groups and in other populations.