The association between the couple relationship and the mothers' and fathers' psychological adjustment to the transition to parenthood has been examined in the literature. However, the direction of effects between these variables has not been extensively explored. This study aimed to assess the direction of effects between mothers' and fathers' positive and negative interactions and anxiety and depression symptoms trajectories over the transition to parenthood. A sample of 129 couples (N = 258) completed self-report measures of positive and negative interactions, anxiety and depression symptoms at each trimester of pregnancy, at childbirth, and at 3- and 30-months postpartum. Dyadic growth curve models were performed using multilevel modeling. Whereas anxiety and depression showed no moderation effect on positive and negative interactions over time, negative interaction moderated depression from 3- to 30-months postpartum. Mothers and fathers with high negative interaction scores experienced a steeper increase in depression from 3- to 30-months postpartum. Additionally, gender moderated the effect of positive interaction on anxiety from 3- to 30-months postpartum. Fathers with low positive interaction scores experienced an increase in anxiety, whereas fathers with high positive interaction scores and mothers with high or low positive interaction scores did not experience changes in anxiety from 3- to 30-months postpartum. Despite the longitudinal aspect of the models, a possible causal relationship need to be taken with caution. Our results suggest that mothers' and fathers' positive and negative interactions affect their anxiety and depression symptoms trajectories: negative interaction raises mothers' and fathers' depression symptoms and positive interaction prevents the increase of fathers' anxiety symptoms over the postpartum period.

The Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form is a reliable instrument to measure mother's confidence in her ability to breastfeed. The Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form has traditionally been used postnatally, but evidence suggests that it can be used antenatally to identify mothers at-risk of requiring additional support to improve breastfeeding outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric characteristics of an antenatal version of the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form, among pregnant Portuguese women. Methodological prospective study to examine the psychometric characteristics of the antenatal Portuguese version of the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form. Two public hospital units in the Northern Portugal. The sample was comprised of 373 pregnant women recruited at 30-34 gestational weeks. The original English version of the antenatal Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form was translated into Portuguese and the Portuguese antenatal version of the scale was tested in a sample of 373 pregnant women. To examine the psychometric characteristics of the Portuguese antenatal version of the scale, the maternal demographic variables and the depressive and anxiety symptomatology of the participants were examined. The predictive validity of the Portuguese antenatal version of the scale was studied according to infant feeding method at one, three, and six months postpartum. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.92. The antenatal version of the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form scores were found to be associated with women's parity, educational level, occupational status, time they intend to breastfeed, and previous breastfeeding experience. Also, the antenatal version of the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form scores significantly predicted exclusive breastfeeding at 1 month postpartum. Results provided evidence that the antenatal Portuguese version of the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form is a valid and reliable measure to assess breastfeeding self-efficacy in pregnant women. The antenatal version of the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form could be a useful tool to assist Portuguese health professionals during routine prenatal care appointments to screen women with lower antenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy and, consequently, those that could be at risk for not initiating or early breastfeeding cessation.

Little is known about the development of fathers’ parenting self-efficacy during the transition to parenthood. To analyse (1) fathers’ parenting self-efficacy developmental path and (2) the effects...

This study assessed infant sleep-wake behavior at two weeks, three and six months as function of feeding method at three months (exclusively breastfed, partially breastfed, and exclusively formula fed infants). Mothers of 163 first-born, full-term, normal birth weight, healthy infants completed socio-demographic, depression, anxiety, and infant sleep-wake behavior measures. No effects were found for sleep arrangements, depression or anxiety, on feeding methods and sleep-wake behavior at three months. At two weeks exclusively breastfed infants at three months spent more hours sleeping and less hours awake during the 24-h period than partially breastfed infants. At three months, exclusively breastfed infants had a shorter of the longest sleep period at night than exclusively formula fed infants. At six months, exclusively breastfed infants at three months spent more hours awake at night than partially breastfed infants, awake more at night than exclusively formula fed infants, and had a shorter sleep period at night than partially breastfed and exclusively formula fed infants. This study showed differences in sleep-wake behaviors at two weeks, three and six months, when exclusively breastfed infants are compared with partially breastfed and exclusively formula fed infants at three months, while no effects were found for sleep arrangements, depression or anxiety.

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding has a wide range of benefits for maternal health. However, the benefit of exclusive breastfeeding for maternal mental health needs to be further explored. Research Aim: To determine the moderating role of exclusive breastfeeding at 3 months on the association between prenatal and postpartum depression. Methods: This study had a prospective, longitudinal, and comparative design with two groups and three assessment waves. The sample comprised 334 participants (70 depressed and 264 non-depressed) recruited at public health services in northern Portugal. Participants completed a measure of depression symptoms between the second and the third trimester of pregnancy and between 3 and 6 months, and a measure of breastfeeding status at 3 months. Results: Exclusive breastfeeding at 3 months moderated the association between prenatal and postpartum depression. Participants with prenatal depression who were exclusively breastfeeding at 3 months showed fewer symptoms of depression and lower rates of depression between 3 and 6 months postpartum, compared to participants with prenatal depression who were not exclusively breastfeeding. Participants without prenatal depression who were exclusively breastfeeding at 3 months showed similar depression symptoms and similar rates of depression between 3 and 6 months postpartum, compared to participants without prenatal depression who were not exclusively breastfeeding. Conclusion: Exclusive breastfeeding has a potential protective influence on postpartum depression among women with prenatal depression. Public health policies targeting women with prenatal depression should be implemented and include practices to promote and support exclusive breastfeeding in order to enhance women’s exclusive breastfeeding and mental health.