Maternal blood pressure mediates the association between maternal obesity and infant weight gain in early postpartum

Abstract

Summary Background It is unknown to what extent higher maternal blood pressure (BP) in early postpartum impacts the relationship between higher maternal weight status and greater infant weight gain in early postpartum. Objective To evaluate the mediating role of higher maternal BP at 1 month postpartum on the association between higher maternal weight status at 1 month postpartum and greater infant weight gain over 6 months postpartum. Methods Participants were 169 Hispanic mother‐infant pairs. Maternal body mass index (BMI) and BP were assessed at 1 month postpartum. Infant weight was measured at 1 and 6 months postpartum to calculate weight‐for‐age z scores (WAZ). Multiple linear regression models were used for prediction, and Sobel test was used to determine mediation. Results Controlling for maternal pre‐pregnancy BMI, age, delivery mode, infant sex, and infant birth weight revealed that both maternal BMI (β = .29) and BP (β = .32) predicted infant WAZ gain (both P ≤ .03). However, the relationship between infant WAZ gain and maternal BMI was no longer significant after further adjustment for maternal BP, which remained significant (P < .05). Maternal BP explained 23.6% (Sobel T = 2.01) of the association between maternal BMI at 1 month and infant WAZ gain over 6 months. Conclusion Our data suggest that higher maternal weight status at 1 month postpartum is related to greater infant weight gain over 6 months postpartum, and this relationship is mediated by higher maternal BP at 1 month postpartum.

Human milk oligosaccharide 2’-fucosyllactose links feedings at 1 month to cognitive development at 24 months in infants of normal and overweight mothers

“…Mother-infant pairs completed three visits for the purposes of this study. As described in Berger et al at 1 month, historical health-related information was collected, and included maternal age, infant sex, and infant birth weight [19]. At 1 and 6 months, mothers completed questionnaires on breast milk feeding practices: mothers were asked to report mean breast milk feedings/day (i.e., breast milk feeding frequency) for the past 7 days.…”

“…At 1 and 6 months, mothers completed questionnaires on breast milk feeding practices: mothers were asked to report mean breast milk feedings/day (i.e., breast milk feeding frequency) for the past 7 days. At 1, 6, and 24 months, infant weight was measured following standard procedures [19]. Mothers were weighed with and without holding the infant on an electronic scale, and the difference in the mother's weight with and without holding the infant was calculated and recorded [19].…”

“…Participants in this study were 50 mother-infant pairs recruited from maternity clinics in Los Angeles County. As described in Berger et al, mothers were included based on the following criteria: 1) self-identified Hispanic ethnicity; 2) �18 years old at delivery; 3) gave birth to a healthy, term, singleton newborn; 4) enrolled within 1 month postpartum; 5) intended to breastfeed for 6 months postpartum; and 6) able to read English or Spanish at a 5 th grade level to understand procedures [19]. Mothers reported pre-pregnancy weight and height so as to recruit uniformly across the spectrum of pre-pregnancy BMI status [20].…”

“…Mothers reported pre-pregnancy weight and height so as to recruit uniformly across the spectrum of pre-pregnancy BMI status [20]. Mothers were excluded based on the following criteria: 1) reported medications or a medical condition that could affect physical or mental health, nutrition, or metabolism; 2) used tobacco (>1 cigarette/ week) or recreational drugs; and 3) had a clinical diagnosis of fetal abnormalities [19]. The Institutional Review Board of Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the University of Southern California approved all procedures.…”

“…The Institutional Review Board of Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the University of Southern California approved all procedures. Participants provided written informed consent prior to data collection [19].…”