Short sleep duration is defined as sleeping less than seven hours a night and, although it has a negative impact on anyone’s health, for pregnant women it could also harm their baby. Thus, and according to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, pregnant women who do not get enough sleep could have a greater risk of their children experiencing delays in neuropsychological development.
During pregnancy, the future mother may have difficulty sleeping due to the hormonal changes she experiences, the discomforts of pregnancy, or the frequent need to urinate, among other factors. It is estimated that around 40% of pregnant women have short sleep duration, which can increase their risk of developing glucose intolerance, insulin resistance and gestational diabetes. Additionally, your children may be at increased risk for delays in neuropsychological development, which affects their social, emotional, behavioral, motor, cognitive, or speech development.
How maternal sleep affects the neuropsychological development of the child
“This study highlights the importance of taking care of sleep health during pregnancy. By showing the connection between maternal sleep and children’s neuropsychological development, our work provides families with valuable information to encourage healthier habits during pregnancy and contribute to the well-being of the next generation,” explained Dr. Peng Zhu, lead author of the study and a member of Anhui Medical University and the Key Laboratory of Population Health Throughout the Life Course of the Ministry of Education in Hefei, China.
“Improving sleep habits during pregnancy could help prevent or reduce the risk of problems in the neuropsychological development of children”
The researchers analyzed sleep data from 7,059 mother-child pairs from three different hospitals in China. Children were assessed for developmental delays between 6 months and 3 years of age, examining the relationship between maternal sleep duration and risk for neuropsychological developmental delays. They also analyzed C-peptide levels in umbilical cord blood serum, a stable indicator of fetal insulin secretion.
The main findings of the study have been:
- Lack of sleep during pregnancy may be linked to a greater risk of problems in the neuropsychological development of children, affecting their cognitive abilities, behavioral development and learning ability.
- Male children appear to be more susceptible to these delays when their mothers do not get enough sleep during pregnancy, suggesting that gender may influence the response to prenatal environmental factors.
- Short sleep duration during pregnancy could affect the mother’s glucose metabolism, thereby influencing the developmental environment of the fetus.
- There could be a positive correlation between C-peptide levels in umbilical cord blood and delays in neuropsychological development, indicating that the mother’s glucose metabolism during pregnancy may affect the insulin secretion of the fetus and, consequently, its development.
“Prenatal health is key, not only for the mother, but also for the long-term health of the developing fetus,” said Zhu, concluding that “improving sleep habits during pregnancy could help prevent or reduce risk of problems in the neuropsychological development of children.”
