Mother's lack of sleep during pregnancy may hinder baby's development: Study

Sleep is very important for pregnant women. A recent study has shown that getting less sleep during pregnancy can have a negative impact on the development of children.

In this study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found that if pregnant women slept less than seven hours a night, their babies had a higher risk of delayed neurodevelopment between 6 months and 3 years of age.

Objectives of study

Researchers in China analyzed sleep data from 7,059 mother-child pairs. Dr. Peng Zhu, lead author of the study, explains that our findings emphasize that sleep quality during pregnancy is important for reducing the risk of long-term cognitive and behavioral problems in children.

effects on neural development

Researchers also found that pregnant women's sleep affects fetal glucose metabolism, which may affect the baby's neural development. The study also found that boys are at higher risk of these problems than girls.

Reasons for lack of sleep during pregnancy

Lack of sleep in pregnant women is due to hormonal changes, restlessness and problems like frequent urination, which are side effects of pregnancy.

Tips to improve sleep

According to experts, one should sleep in a cool and dark room for better sleep during pregnancy. Along with this, reduce screen time before sleeping, use supportive pillows for comfort.