Pregnant women who do not get enough sleep may be at higher risk of having children with neurodevelopmental delays, according to new research published in Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, titled "Association of maternal short sleep duration with neurodevelopmental delay in offspring: a prospective cohort study."
Short sleep duration (SSD) is defined as sleeping less than seven hours per night. Pregnant woman may have trouble sleeping due to hormonal changes, pregnancy discomfort, frequent urination, and other factors.
It's been reported that almost 40% of pregnant women have SSD. These women may have a higher risk of impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance and gestational diabetes, and their children may be at higher risk of experiencing neurodevelopmental delays. These children are slower to develop their social, emotional, behavioral, motor, cognitive, or speech skills.
"This study highlights the necessity of managing sleep health during pregnancy. By shedding light on the connection between maternal sleep during pregnancy and children's neurodevelopment, our study empowers families with knowledge that can shape healthier pregnancy habits and contribute to the well-being of the next generation," said lead study author Peng Zhu, M.D., of Anhui Medical University and the MOE Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle in Hefei, China.
"Improving sleep habits during pregnancy may prevent or reduce the risk of neurodevelopmental issues in children."
The researchers analyzed sleep data from 7,059 mother-child pairs from three different hospitals in China. They screened the children for developmental delays from 6 months to 3 years old and analyzed the link between maternal sleep duration and neurodevelopmental delay risk. They also evaluated the role of cord blood serum C-peptide levels, which are a stable indicator of fetal insulin secretion.
The study found:
"Prenatal health is important not only for the expectant mother but also for the long-term health of the unborn child," said Zhu.