Karitane Parenting Confidence Scale: measuring parenting self-efficacy in Portuguese mothers during the first year postpartum.

Background: The Karitane Parenting Confidence Scale (KPCS) was designed to assess parenting self-efficacy in parents of infants during the first year.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyse the psychometric characteristics of the KPCS in Portuguese mothers during the first-year postpartum.

Methods: A sample of 383 mothers were recruited at two public outpatient units in Northern Portugal.

Maternal Prenatal Depressive Symptoms and Infant Sleep Problems: The Role of Infant Temperament and Sex.

Objectives: We aimed to analyze whether (1) infant temperament mediates the impact of maternal prenatal depressive symptoms on infant sleep problems and (2) the mediation role of infant temperament was moderated by the infant's sex.

Methods: The sample was comprised of 172 mother-infant dyads. Mothers completed self-reported measures of prenatal and postnatal depressive symptoms, infant temperament (negative affectivity, surgency/extraversion, and orienting regulation), and sleep problems.

Unidirectional and bidirectional links between maternal depression symptoms and infant sleep problems.

The present study explored (a) the unidirectional and bidirectional links between maternal depression symptoms and infant sleep problems and (b) the moderating role of the infant's sex on these unidirectional and bidirectional links. Mothers (N = 312) completed measures of depression symptoms at the third pregnancy trimester, and measures of depression symptoms and infant sleep problems at 2 weeks, and at 3 and 6 months postpartum. The findings revealed: (a) a main unidirectional link between maternal depression symptoms during the third trimester and infant sleep problems, particularly on infant unsettled sleep and daytime sleepiness at 3 and 6 months; (b) bidirectional links between maternal postpartum depression symptoms and infant unsettled sleep at 2 weeks, 3 and 6 months of life; and (c) the reported links between maternal depression symptoms and infant sleep problems occur specifically in boys and their mothers.

The Infant Behavior Questionnaire - Revised: psychometric properties at 2 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months of life.

Background: Temperament characteristics are key elements for infants' development. The Infant Behavior Questionnaire - Revised (IBQ-R) is one of the most used measures to assess temperament in infants aged between 3 and 12 months. Its reliability and factor structure have not yet been examined in infants younger than 3 months.

Mother's prenatal and postpartum depression symptoms and infant's sleep problems at 6 months.

Mother's prenatal and postpartum depression have been associated with infant's sleep problems. This study aimed to analyze (a) the effects of mother's prenatal and postpartum depression symptoms, including the effects of prenatal and postpartum anxiety and depression scores of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), on infant's sleep problems at 6 months, and (b) the interaction effect between mother's prenatal and postpartum depression symptoms and infant's sex on infant's sleep problems at 6 months. The sample was comprised of 164 mother-infant dyads whose mothers completed measures of depression at the third trimester of pregnancy, 2 weeks, 3 and 6 months postpartum and a measure of infant's sleep problems at 6 months (CSHQ-I).

The breastfeeding self-efficacy scale-short form: Psychometric characteristics in Portuguese pregnant women.

Background: 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.

Objective: 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.

Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire - Infant Version.

Objectives: This study proposed a version of the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire for infants under 12 months (CSHQ-I).

Methods: The sample was comprised of 299 infants, aged between 2 weeks and 12 months.

Results: Exploratory factor analysis revealed four subscales: Bedtime Resistance, Sleep Anxiety, Positive Sleep Habits, and Daytime Sleepiness.

Exclusive breastfeeding at three months and infant sleep-wake behaviors at two weeks, three and six months.

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.

Infant sleep-wake behaviors at two weeks, three and six months.

Although infant sleep-wake behavior presents several developmental changes during the first six months, literature lacks on reference values and few studies have explored the role of individual change and stability on infant sleep-wake behavior during the first six months. This study aimed (1) to describe infant sleep-wake behaviors during the 24-h period, day and night, at two weeks, three, and six months, (2) and to explore developmental changes and the role of individual change and stability on infant sleep-wake behaviors from two weeks to six months. Ninety-four primiparous mothers completed measures on infant sleep-wake behaviors at two weeks, three and six months.

Breastfeeding and depression: a systematic review of the literature.

Background: Research has separately indicated associations between pregnancy depression and breastfeeding, breastfeeding and postpartum depression, and pregnancy and postpartum depression. This paper aimed to provide a systematic literature review on breastfeeding and depression, considering both pregnancy and postpartum depression.

Methods: An electronic search in three databases was performed using the keywords: "breast feeding", "bottle feeding", "depression", "pregnancy", and "postpartum".