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Abnormal neurological soft signs in babies born to smoking mothers were associated with lower breastfeeding for first three months
Author(s) -
Bertini G,
Elia S,
Lori S,
Dani C
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/apa.14762
Subject(s) - breastfeeding , medicine , crying , pediatrics , breast feeding , breast milk , pacifier , swallowing , telephone interview , obstetrics , surgery , psychiatry , social science , biochemistry , chemistry , sociology
Aim We examined associations between neurological alterations in infants born to smoking mothers and breastfeeding success at discharge and three months of age. Methods This 2016 study compared 35 normal weight infants born to smoking mothers at 37–41 weeks and 35 matched controls born to non‐smoking mothers at the Maternity Hospital of Careggi University, Florence, Italy. Neonatal behaviour was evaluated using the neurological soft signs ( NSS ) component of the Graham‐Rosenblith Scale. Breastfeeding variables were measured using the LATCH score that covers: breast latching, audible swallowing, type of nipple, mother's comfort and help they needed to hold their baby to their breast. A questionnaire on excessive crying and feeding was distributed at discharge, and further data were collected during a three‐month telephone interview. Results At discharge, the infants born to smoking mothers had a significantly lower LATCH score and significantly poorer performance on several items of the NSS component than the controls. The LATCH score and number of NSS were inversely proportional. At the three‐month follow‐up only 57.1% of the smoking group infants were breastfeeding compared with 87.5% of the control infants (p < 0.01). Conclusion Infants with smoking mothers displayed altered neurobehavioural profiles and had a difficult start to breastfeeding.