Pregnant women who slept for less than seven hours per night were more likely to have children with developmental delays, according to new research from China.
Scientists found that a lack of sleep—which they called “short sleep duration” (SSD), defined as less than seven hours per night—was linked to a higher rate of delayed social, emotional, behavioral, motor, cognitive and speech skills in their babies.
“This study highlights the necessity of managing sleep health during pregnancy,” said lead author Dr. Peng Zhu, of Anhui Medical University, China, in a statement.
“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 wellbeing of the next generation.”
Many pregnant women struggle to sleep. Hormonal changes, discomfort, frequent urination and nausea are just some of the reasons why this might be the case.
Previous research has indicated that almost 2 in 5 pregnant women have SSD, but this can come with negative consequences for the woman and baby’s health.
An uncomfortable pregnant mother trying to rest at home, lying on her couch holding her head. Research has found that many women struggle to sleep during pregnancy, but getting fewer than seven hours of sleep per night could increase the risk of neurodevelopmental delays in children.
globalmoments/Getty Images
Sleep deprivation in pregnancy has been associated with a higher risk of glucose intolerance—meaning the body struggles to process sugar from food—which can develop into insulin resistance and gestational diabetes.
Gestational diabetes is diabetes that affects women during pregnancy, and can increase the risk of a plethora of outcomes, including early birth, low blood sugar in the baby, birth complications such as preeclampsia or emergency Caesarian, and future type 2 diabetes for the mother, child, or both.
Scientists analyzed sleep data from 7,059 mother-and-baby pairs from three different hospitals in China.
They screened the children for developmental delays from six months old, until three years old, and analyzed the link between the sleep habits of the mothers during pregnancy, and the risk of developmental delay in the children.
They found a significant link between the two factors, especially in boys, suggesting that gender might play a crucial role in the way fetuses respond to their mother’s sleep habits.
“Improving sleep habits during pregnancy may prevent or reduce the risk of neurodevelopmental issues in children,” said Zhu. “Prenatal health is important not only for the expectant mother but also for the long-term health of the unborn child.”
The scientists also evaluated the relationship between developmental delay and insulin—the hormone that deals with sugars in the blood—and proposed that the delays may occur due to the impact that sleep deprivation may have on a pregnant woman’s ability to process sugars.
From blood in the babies’ umbilical cords, the scientists analyzed levels of serum C-peptide, considered a stable indicator of insulin in the womb.
They found a positive correlation between C-peptide levels and neurodevelopmental delays in the babies, which they interpreted as evidence that sugar and insulin problems in the mother could impact insulin levels in the fetus, with negative consequences on their neurodevelopment.
Do you have a tip on a food story that Newsweek should be covering? Is there a nutrition concern that’s worrying you? Let us know via science@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured in Newsweek.
Reference
Zhu, P., Zhang, L, Wang, H. X., Zhu, Y. Y., Ma, R. R., Wang, Y. H., Li, W. X., Zhang, Y. (2024). Association of Maternal Short Sleep Duration with Neurodevelopmental Delay in Offspring: a Prospective Cohort Study, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Mindell, J. A., Cook, R. A., Nikolovski, J. (2015). Sleep patterns and sleep disturbances across pregnancy, Sleep Med. 16(4). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2014.12.006
