Abstract
The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of alcohol exposure during pregnancy on a mother’s responsiveness towards her infant after birth. Using longitudinal data from a subsample of 687 mother–infant dyads from a UK cohort study (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children), we investigated the influence of alcohol use during mid- and late pregnancy on observed mother–infant interactions after birth. We found that women who drank one or more glasses of alcohol a week during their mid-trimester of pregnancy were 19 % (95 % CI, 1 to 40 %; p = 0.033) more likely to show non-responsive behaviour towards their infant 12 months after birth. In contrast, we found that alcohol use during late pregnancy was not associated with later maternal responsiveness. This study adds to the growing evidence for the importance of factors during pregnancy on later maternal responsiveness. Further research is needed to replicate these findings and to examine potential mechanisms linking maternal responsiveness to alcohol use during pregnancy.
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Notes
Unlike cocaine, alcohol does not directly act on the dopaminergic system. Rather, it works on transmission of endorphins. Therefore, the effect of alcohol on reward sensitivity is likely to be at a lesser extent than cocaine.
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Acknowledgements
We are extremely grateful to all the families who took part, the midwives for help in recruiting them and the whole ALSPAC team, which includes interviewers, computer and laboratory technicians, clerical workers, research scientists, volunteers, managers, receptionists and nurses. The UK Medical Research Council, the Wellcome Trust, and the University of Bristol provide core support for ALSPAC. The current project was supported by an ESRC small grant RES-000-22-4175. This article is the work of the authors, and Dr. Pearson will serve as guarantor for the contents of this article.
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Pearson, R.M., Heron, J., Melotti, R. et al. The impact of alcohol use during pregnancy on maternal responses after birth. Arch Womens Ment Health 15, 433–443 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-012-0305-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-012-0305-z