The current study compared infant cortisol responses during the still-face procedure with those shown during other parent-infant interactions. It also examined how stress hormones can affect memory retention. Six-month-old infants (n = 38) were exposed to either a repeated still-face procedure, normal face-to-face interaction, or a divided-attention task. Salivary cortisol was collected at multiple time points. Infants were assigned to a memory demonstration (n = 30) or a no-demonstration (n = 8) group. Infants in the demonstration group were shown 3 target actions with a puppet, and subsequently given a chance to repeat the target actions. Infants in the no demonstration group were not shown the target actions. Only the infants who experienced the still-face procedure showed a significant change in salivary cortisol throughout the procedure. Cortisol values did not significantly predict memory performance. There are still many questions regarding how stress induction during memory consolidation affects memory performance.

The current study compared infant cortisol responses during the still-face procedure with those shown during other parent-infant interactions. It also examined how stress hormones can affect memory retention. Six-month-old infants (n = 38) were exposed to either a repeated still-face procedure, normal face-to-face interaction, or a divided-attention task. Salivary cortisol was collected at multiple time points. Infants were assigned to a memory demonstration (n = 30) or a no-demonstration (n = 8) group. Infants in the demonstration group were shown 3 target actions with a puppet, and subsequently given a chance to repeat the target actions. Infants in the no demonstration group were not shown the target actions. Only the infants who experienced the still-face procedure showed a significant change in salivary cortisol throughout the procedure. Cortisol values did not significantly predict memory performance. There are still many questions regarding how stress induction during memory consolidation affects memory performance.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 180-199). / Microfiche. / xii, 199 leaves, bound ill. 29 cm

Factors that influence exclusive breastfeeding in Namibia are important, especially in light of the implementation of the Baby and Mother Friendly Initiative. Infant feeding practices, especially breastfeeding, are important public health issues, particularly in the prevention of HIV transmission from mother to child. This thesis determined the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding and measures the association of demographic and service-related factors on exclusive and non-exclusive breastfeeding practices.

Bedsharing between infants and parents interacts with many factors to increase the risk of SIDS, eg maternal smoking, alcohol or drug consumption, overtiredness, excessive bedding and younger infant. However, bedsharing also encourages breastfeeding, settles babies, reduces parental tiredness and increases mother-baby interactions. We studied infants in the natural setting of their own home, in their usual situation (bedsharing or cot-sleeping) to identify risks and benefits, and to understand how bedsharing could be made safer for all infants. Methods: Overnight home video and physiological recordings of 40 bedshare infants (5-27 weeks), were compared with 40 cot infants matched for age and study season. Video data provided a log of infant/parent sleep positions, movements and interactions. The physiological recordings measured respiratory pattern, respiratory airflow, inspired CO2, oxygen saturation (SaO2), heart rate and core, peripheral and environmental temperatures. Results: All infants maintained normal core temperatures overnight although bedshare infants had a higher shin temperature [35.43 vs 34.60°C at 2hrs after sleep onset (difference 0.83, 95% CI: 0.18 to 1.49)]. Bedshare infants had thicker bedding (RR:2.35 (95% CI:1.76 to 3.14) and more face covered time [0.9h/night vs 0.2 (RR:5.62, 95% CI: 3.08 to 10.25)]. Awakenings in the bedshare group were more common, of shorter duration, and caused less change in infant temperatures. Exposure to >3% CO2 occurred in 18 bedshare infants and 1 swaddled, cot-sleep infant. The maximum exposure time was the same for both groups (60mins). These levels of CO2 significantly (p<0.05) elevated breathing rate and maintained normal SaO2. Central apnoeas of 5-10 seconds resulted in drops in SaO2 <90% (BS mean 6.8/night vs cot: 3.1, p<0.001). SaO2 rarely fell below 85% and heart rate did not ever fall below 90bpm. Bedshare infants commonly slept on their side, while cot infants slept supine. Prone sleeping was rare (BS:5 infants, 1.6-3.5h/night vs cot:2, 8.9-10.2) and for bedshare infants involved sleeping on mother�s chest. Bedshare infants woke and fed more frequently (mean wake times/night: 4.6 vs 2.5), but total sleep time was not different. Maternal checks were more frequent in the bedshare group (median:10, IQ range:7-23, max:55) than cot ( 4, 3-6, 16) and bedshare mothers frequently responded to infant initiated movements. During bedsharing baby and mother usually slept facing each other, touching, with infants at mothers� breast level. Father (or sibling) contact was rare. Conclusions: Bedshare infants sleep in a warmer environment and experience more potentially dangerous events such as head-covering and rebreathing. However, all infants in this study maintained normal rectal temperature and SaO2 suggesting they were protected by homeostatic responses. Infant safety is also facilitated by frequent maternal checking and maternal responses to infant movements. The mother-infant proximity during bedsharing allows prompt responses, reduces time infants are upset, and minimises disruption from frequent breast feeding - aspects valued by many. It is not known if infants of smoking mothers or parents with impaired responses eg due to alcohol, respond adequately to the potentially dangerous situations identified. Outcome: The results of this study will be used to formulate recommendations to parents for improving the safety of bedsharing.

Thesis (MAppSc) -- University of South Australia, 1999

The central nervous system (CNS) develops in a temporally and spatially organised manner. Any adverse events happening during the critical periods of early brain formation may lead to arrest in the process or injury to specific developed structures. Infants born at less than 30 weeks of gestation and those with intra-partum asphyxia are at risk of motor delay. The cause of this delay may be related to injuries in the brain such as the motor cortex, basal ganglia and cerebellum, all of which are essential in controlling movements. According to the dynamical systems theory of motor development, other than the CNS, body systems within the infant such as the musculoskeletal system, and external to the infant such as environmental enrichment and supportive child-rearing practice also have a decisive role in motor development in infants. / Paediatric physiotherapists have been involved in the management of these infants since birth. A number of well-established assessment tools are used to assess these infants’ motor functions. Most of these tools typically do not describe the movement patterns of infants but emphasise the achievement of age-specific motor milestones. The Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) is one of the few tools that acknowledge the importance of movement quality. / The overall aim of the present research was to examine the impact of adverse events in early infancy, including birth prior to 30 weeks of gestation and intra-partum asphyxia, on motor development of infants during the first two years of (corrected) age. One hundred and twenty infants were recruited, including 58 preterm infants, 10 infants with post-asphyxia neonatal encephalopathy (NE) and 52 term born infants as the control group. All the infants were assessed using the AIMS at 4, 8, 12 and 18 months of (corrected) age. / The preterm group scored significantly lower on various sub-scores of the AIMS at all age levels than the control group. Uneven progression in the sit subscale from 4 to 8 months corrected age (CA) was found in the preterm infants, possibly due to a dominant extensor strength, inadequate tonus and postural control in the trunk. At 12 and 18 months CA, limited variations in movements were evident in some preterm infants in the crawling, sitting and standing positions. The ten infants with post-asphyxia NE showed scattered motor development, related mostly to the severity of their NE. The moderate NE group had the most varied motor outcomes ranging from normal to suspected mild cerebral palsy. / The AIMS was shown to be a valid assessment tool in the preterm population although limitations in its use were found at 4 months CA and when the infants walked or were close to independent ambulation. The present results show that motor performance of typically and non-typically developing infants should be investigated longitudinally as variations are the characteristic of early development. The dynamical systems theory provides a more satisfactory explanation of the motoric differences in infants in this study. All these findings have great implications for the clinical management of these at risk infants.