Maternal physiological calming responses to infant suckling at the breast

Abstract

The mother–infant relation is key to infant physical, cognitive and social development. Mutual regulation and cooperation are required to maintain the dyadic system, but the biological foundation of these responses remains to be clarified. In this study, we report the maternal calming responses to infant suckling during breastfeeding. Using behavioral measures and a Holter electrocardiogram as a readout of the maternal autonomic nervous system, the maternal activities during resting, sitting with her infant on her lap, and breastfeeding were assessed. We found that during breastfeeding, mothers talked less and maternal heart rate was lower than during sitting with the infant without breastfeeding. Congruently, maternal heart rate variability measurements indicated a higher parasympathetic activity during breastfeeding. Time-locked analyses suggested that this maternal calming response was initiated by the tactile stimulation at the breast by the infant face or mouth latch, which preceded the perceived milk ejection. These findings suggest that somatosensory stimuli of breastfeeding activate parasympathetic activity in mothers. Just as how the infant Transport Response facilitates the carrying of infants, the maternal calming responses during breastfeeding may promote efficient milk intake by inhibiting spontaneous maternal activities.

Coregulation: A Multilevel Approach via Biology and Behavior

“…Several studies have also investigated autonomic nervous system responses of mothers to their infants’ stimuli, highlighting the intricate and bidirectional nature of the mother–infant relationship. Two notable examples of such studies are the research conducted by Ohmura and colleagues [ 48 ] and by Doi and colleagues [ 49 ]. Ohmura and colleagues [ 48 ] explored maternal physiological calming responses during breastfeeding.…”

“…Two notable examples of such studies are the research conducted by Ohmura and colleagues [ 48 ] and by Doi and colleagues [ 49 ]. Ohmura and colleagues [ 48 ] explored maternal physiological calming responses during breastfeeding. They investigated maternal activities and autonomic nervous system dynamics using behavioral measures and a Holter electrocardiogram.…”