By: Dr Sapna Raina, Senior Consultant, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Narayana Health City, Bengaluru
With Mother’s Day celebrations done and dusted, it’s worth considering what may be the perfect gift for any mother – uninterrupted sleep.
The pervasive disruption of sleep during pregnancy and motherhood constitutes a significant and unacknowledged public health challenge, which leads to a health crisis with profound implications for both the mother and the developing newborn. In our society, there is often immense pressure on women to keep excelling in multiple different roles. Sleep often becomes a casualty, which then becomes a habit that leads to severe and far-reaching health consequences.
Impact of Maternal Sleep Deprivation and Health
Research consistently demonstrates the detrimental health effects of insufficient sleep during pregnancy. Prolonged and complicated labour requires more medical intervention, which shows higher rates of C-sections and preterm births. Another study shows how a systematic review was undertaken to enhance the understanding of sleep disturbance and mood disorders for women in late pregnancy.
After the postpartum period, the connection between breastfeeding and the assessment of sleep disturbance interventions occurs. Poor sleep connects with hypertension, gestational diabetes, and even miscarriages.
The impact usually extends to the postpartum period, where the chronic sleep deprivation inflammation that marks the mother’s body, which potentially can develop into postpartum depression and further complicate the recovery and maternal mental health. Sleep quality during pregnancy has been correlated with lower infant birth weight and increased complications for the baby.
Role of Hormonal Shifts in Sleep Disruption
Hormonal shifts occur when hormones fluctuate during pregnancy and postpartum. Changing oestrogen, progesterone, and cortisol is critical in disrupting sleep patterns. This is coupled with physical discomfort and restlessness, which demand newborn care and create chronic sleep deprivation for mothers.
It is also crucial to recognize that adequate sleep is not easy but has a fundamental biological imperative for maternal health and optimal fetal development. Compromised sleep can lead to serious physical complications, which is why prioritizing sleep is vital as an essential medical necessity, and not just a peripheral aspect of care.
Wider societal costs of maternal sleep deprivation
Sleep loss in motherhood has consequences that extend beyond the individual, impacting broader social well-being. Mothers who experience chronic sleep deficiency face problems, where there can be an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and enduring mental health disorders. This includes anxiety and depression that can extend beyond the perinatal period, potentially affecting the long-term health of both mother and child.
Moreover, a lack of adequate sleep impairs cognitive function and emotional regulation, which directly impact the mother’s ability to provide proper care for her family. However, it also depends on a potential ripple effect across generations.
Addressing the Need Recognition and Support
Given the substantial health risks involved, it is essential to raise awareness among healthcare professionals and mothers regarding the critical importance of sleep. Along with the healthcare professionals and mothers, it is also necessary to make the other family members aware (e.g., fathers/husbands, teenage kids, etc.) Furthermore, identifying sleep disturbances along with interventions such as sleep hygiene, education, counselling, as well as medical management of sleep disorders can improve outcomes for both mother and baby.
Healthcare systems should integrate comprehensive sleep assessment into routine and postnatal care, recognising sleep health as a critical component of maternal wellness and societal contribution. Societal structures and workplace policies should follow this process to help and support the sleep and needs of pregnant and postpartum mothers.
The widespread sleep disruption in motherhood is a hidden but critical crisis with far-reaching consequences. Helping to prioritize maternal sleep through recognition, education, support, and integrated medical care. Ensuring restful sleep for mothers is a matter of care and an innovative economic and social strategy.