Changes in maternal sleep during pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes

Abstract

Sleep disorders in pregnancy are incompletely studied, as they are significant health problems with maternal-fetal implications. These are quite common due to the hormonal, anatomical, and functional changes that occur in the mother’s body. Sleep deprivation influences the mother’s health, with important repercussions on the fetus. Polysomnography shows that the changes regarding sleep architecture begin in the first trimester, and disturbances are also observed after birth. Obstetrical implications (way of birth, duration of labor, analgesia, anesthesia at birth, early onset of labor) and maternal conditions (hypertension induced by pregnancy, gestational diabetes, mental disorders) can change sleep quality. Early identification of sleep disorders, as well as prompt prenatal management, especially through non-pharmacological means, is essential to avoid negative consequences.