Sleeping less than seven hours a night during pregnancy could contribute to neurodevelopmental problems in the child.
- During pregnancy, sleeping less than seven hours a night could promote neurodevelopmental problems in the child.
- These neurodevelopmental problems can be diverse: cognitive, learning and behavioral.
- According to the study, the link between the mother’s sleep and the child’s neurological development is linked to the glucose metabolism and insulin secretion of the fetus.
Hormonal changes, discomfort, urge to urinate… During pregnancy, sleep is sometimes disrupted, and this could impact the child’s brain development, according to a new study published in the journal Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism of the Endocrine Society.
Sleep: sleeping less than 7 hours during pregnancy impacts the baby
During their work, the researchers analyzed the sleep data of 7,059 pregnant women in China. Their children were then regularly examined from six months to three years old to detect possible neurodevelopmental delays.
Results: having short nights – sleeping less than seven hours per night on average – during pregnancy has many consequences for the infant. They are at greater risk of developing neurological disorders that affect their cognitive and learning abilities, but also behavioral development.
However, not all babies are impacted in the same way. Indeed, according to scientists, boys are more affected by their mother’s lack of sleep during pregnancy than girls.
“Prenatal health is important not only for the mother-to-be, but also for the long-term health of the unborn child“, estimates Peng Zhu, one of the authors in a press releasein view of the data collected.
Neurodevelopment: how is the fetus impacted by lack of sleep?
Researchers attempted to explain the discovered link between mother’s sleep and child’s neurological development. It could come from glucose. Sleeping less than seven hours during pregnancy could affect glucose metabolism and have a domino effect on the baby, they say.
To test the hypothesis, scientists analyzed levels of C-peptide in umbilical cord blood, which is an indicator of fetal insulin secretion (a hormone that regulates blood glucose levels). They discovered that the mother’s glucose metabolism during pregnancy had, in some cases, an impact on the insulin secretion of the fetus and, therefore, on its neurological development.
“This study shows the importance of sleep during pregnancy, explains Peng Zhu. By showing the link between maternal sleep during pregnancy and children’s neurological development, our study provides families with knowledge that can [les aider à avoir] healthier pregnancy habits and contribute to the well-being of the next generation. Improving sleep habits during pregnancy may prevent or reduce the risk of neurodevelopmental problems in children”.
