title: Relationships between maternal overweight prior to pregnancy, feeding mode and infant feeding beliefs and practices.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to examine whether pre-pregnancy weight status was associated with maternal feeding beliefs and practices in the early post-partum period.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study uses secondary analysis of longitudinal data from Australian mothers. Participants (n = 486) were divided into two weight status groups based on self-reported pre-pregnancy weight and measured height: healthy weight (body mass index (BMI) <25 kg/m(2) ; n = 321) and overweight (BMI > 25 kg/m(2) ; n = 165). Feeding beliefs and practices were self-reported via an established questionnaire that assessed concerns about infant overeating and undereating, awareness of infant cues, feeding to a schedule and using food to calm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Infants of overweight mothers were more likely to have been given solid foods in the previous 24 h (29% vs. 20%) and fewer were fully breastfed (50% vs. 64%). Multivariable regression analyses (adjusted for maternal education, parity, average infant weekly weight gain, feeding mode and introduction of solids) revealed that pre-pregnancy weight status was not associated with using food to calm, concern about undereating, awareness of infant cues or feeding to a schedule. However, feeding mode was associated with feeding beliefs and practices.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although no evidence for a relationship between maternal weight status and early maternal feeding beliefs and practices was observed, differences in feeding mode and early introduction of solids were observed. The emergence of a relationship between feeding practices and maternal weight status may occur when the children are older, solid feeding is established and they become more independent in feeding.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rametta
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Kimberley M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Mallan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Lynne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Daniels
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.|Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: de Jersey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D001942:Breast Feeding; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers; D050177:Overweight; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: breastfeeding; feeding belief and practice; infant cue; maternal weight