Editorial: Sleep In Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period

Abstract

Sleep disturbance is common in pregnant women and an increasing number of studies supports a relationship between sleep disturbance and poor pregnancy outcomes. Such outcomes may not only be limited to the health of the mother, such as gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia, but also to the health of the fetus, such as growth restriction. Despite these findings few obstetric healthcare providers screen their patients for sleep problems. This may be due to the belief that poor sleep in pregnancy is a natural part of the transition to parenthood and is in preparation for the loss of parental sleep that accompanies a newborn, or that the sleep difficulties are mostly transient and get resolved following delivery. Parental sleep difficulties may persist or emerge following delivery and may be associated with mood disorders and family dysfunction. Clearly this has an impact on the wellbeing of the offspring.