Involvement of prolactin in newborn infant irritability following maternal perinatal anxiety symptoms

Abstract Background Newborn irritability could be an unique and special status and/or adverse neurobehavioral outcomes which was independent of serious disease. To determine whether maternal perinatal anxiety symptoms was associated with newborn irritability, and whether the alteration of serum prolactin in newborns were involved in newborn irritability. Methods 205 pregnant women were recruited: normal group (n = 100), and anxiety group (n = 105), which was randomly divided to Newborn Behavioral Observations (NBO)+anxiety group( n  = 65) and control+anxiety group( n  = 40). Newborn Irritability was assessed by Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale(NBAS). Serum prolactin, cortisol and 5-HT in mothers and infants were measured. Results 1. The scores of irritability items in the newborns of anxiety group were higher than that of the normal group ( p  p  p p  Limitations In future experiments, we should explore the effect of PRL in the breast milk on newborn infant serum PRL. Conclusions Prolactin could be a potential mediator in newborn irritability following maternal perinatal anxiety symptoms.