Investigating the Impact of Maternal Stress on Milk Glucocorticoids: A Multimethod Approach.

ABSTRACT: Milk glucocorticoids (MGCs) in human milk may play a pivotal role in the health and development of children. Though MGCs might be increased by maternal stress, prior research yielded conflicting findings. The aim of this preregistered study is to examine the impact of maternal stress on MGCs. Mothers from the low-risk SMILEY cohort participated 6-8 weeks postpartum. During a naturalistic study, mothers (n = 110) reported their current global affective state three times a day (morning n = 96, afternoon n = 98, evening n = 97) and simultaneously collected milk samples (morning n = 89, afternoon n = 93, evening n = 88). During an experimental study in the lab, mothers (n = 80) were exposed to the Trier Social Stress Test or a control task and collected a milk sample 15 min thereafter. Global

SUBMITTER: Lustermans H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12439325 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature