Impact of parenting resources on breastfeeding, parenting confidence and relationships

Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Attempts Among Women Veterans Using VA Reproductive Health Care: Prevalence and Associations With Fertility-, Pregnancy- and Parenting-related Factors

INTRODUCTION

Women veterans are at elevated risk for suicide and experience a high prevalence of suicidal ideation (SI) and suicide attempt (SA) history. Knowledge regarding SI/SA correlates among women veterans who use reproductive health care services is limited, inhibiting development of evidence-based, gender-sensitive suicide prevention programming tailored to meet women veterans' needs and preferences. This study aimed to 1) describe the prevalence and characteristics of SI and SA among women veterans using Veterans Health Administration (VHA) reproductive health care services and 2) provide an initial exploration of associations between fertility-, pregnancy-, and parenting-related factors with SI and SA to guide future research.

METHODS

Post-9/11 women veterans (n = 352) who used VHA reproductive health care in fiscal year 2018 completed a cross-sectional survey on reproductive health, mental health, and parenting.

RESULTS

Approximately 30% and 12% experienced SI and SA(s), respectively, after military service; 10% reported past-month SI. Infertility, pregnancy loss, age at first pregnancy, and parental status were not significantly associated with SI or SA history, although notable effect sizes were observed for infertility and age at first pregnancy; further research is warranted. Among parents, parental functioning was not associated with SI/SA, but lower parental satisfaction was significantly associated with past-month SI (prevalence ratio, 3.36; 95% confidence interval, 1.19-9.46; adjusting for demographics, military characteristics, mental health symptoms).

CONCLUSIONS

Postmilitary SI and SA(s) are common among women veterans accessing VHA reproductive health care services. Those with low parental satisfaction may be at particularly high risk. Findings can guide future research and inform clinical care to facilitate suicide prevention.

Mothers' habitual smartphone use, infants during breastfeeding, and mother-infant bonding: A longitudinal study

The excessive use of digital media by breastfeeding mothers may reduce their responsiveness to their child. However, there are no longitudinal studies focusing on breastfeeding during infancy. This study aimed to examine mothers' habitual use of smartphones and their observations of their infants during breastfeeding and identifies changes in the relationship between mother's breastfeeding habits and bonding with their infants. This is a quantitative descriptive study based on a questionnaire survey conducted on the Internet. Two questionnaires were sent to and collected from Japanese mothers who were the registered members of the survey company; the first questionnaire was completed 1 to 3 months postdelivery and the second 6 months after the first (approximately 9 months after delivery). In total, 195 participants participated. Smartphone use during breastfeeding was habitual, but mothers simultaneously observed their infants. Mothers habitually used smartphones during breastfeeding shortly after giving birth; however, there was little connection to subsequent negative emotions toward their children or problems with bonding. It is necessary to continue to evaluate the behavior of the mother and child.