Postpartum factors related to mother's attraction to newborn infant odors

Dev Psychobiol. 1993 Mar;26(2):115-32. doi: 10.1002/dev.420260204.

Abstract

Hedonic responses to a variety of infant (general body, urine, and feces) and noninfant (lotion, cheese, and spice) odorants were compared in four groups of subjects: new mothers, mothers a 1-month postpartum, and female and male nonparents. Using standard scaling procedures, subjects rated each of the odorants twice on a scale from extremely unpleasant (-20.5) to extremely pleasant (+20.5). In addition, all subjects completed a set of attitude questionnaires, and mothers also answered a childbirth questionnaire and were observed while feeding their infants.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn*
  • Male
  • Maternal Behavior*
  • Odorants*
  • Postpartum Period*
  • Smell
  • Surveys and Questionnaires