If pregnant women lose sleep, it could have a long-lasting impact on their children

It may be difficult to get enough shut-eye while pregnant, but new research highlights just how important it is to get at least seven hours of sleep each night.

A study published Thursday in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism indicates that a lack of sleep during pregnancy increases the risk of neurodevelopmental delays in children. The study authors explained that, once born, children could be slower to develop social, emotional, behavioral, motor, cognitive and 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 Dr. Peng Zhu, 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.”

Many pregnant people experience sleep disturbances for a number of reasons, including hormonal changes, physical discomfort, frequent urination and more.

Around 78% of pregnant people experience insomnia – the perception of poor-quality sleep – said the American Pregnancy Association . According to the Endocrine Society , nearly 40% of pregnant people have Short Sleep Duration (SSD), defined as sleeping less than seven hours per night. With this condition comes an increased risk of impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance and gestational diabetes.

Glucose metabolism can in turn influence the fetal development environment, said the Endocrine Society.

To study the impact of pregnancy sleep loss on babies after they are born, researchers analyzed sleep data from 7,059 mother-child pairs from three different hospitals in China. Their analysis included screening of the children for developmental delays from 6 months to 3 years old and an evaluation of the role of cord blood serum C-peptide levels, an indicator of fetal insulin secretion.

“There may be a positive correlation between C-peptide levels in umbilical cord blood and neurodevelopmental delays in offspring, indicating that a mother's glucose metabolism during pregnancy may impact the insulin secretion of the fetus and, consequently, their neurodevelopment,” the Endocrine Society explained.

Through their analysis, the researchers found a link between insufficient sleep during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental delays. In particular, boys appear to be at a higher risk of neurodevelopmental delays when their mothers experience SSD during pregnancy, according to the study.

There are some ways to deal with pregnancy-related sleep disturbances offered by the American Pregnancy Association. These include: trying new sleeping positions, preparing for bed with a warm bath or massage, making sure sleeping areas are at a comfortable temperature, playing relaxing sounds for sleep and trying relaxation techniques before bedtime.

However, sleep can still be elusive sometimes. In those cases, the association suggests reading a book, eating a small snack or drinking warm milk to wind down. It also recommends regular exercise and sleeping in the day if necessary.