Prenatal health may impact baby sleep
Several studies, tracking thousands of pregnant women, have uncovered an association between health and wellbeing during pregnancy, and infant sleep.
Our very own research took a closer look at this association, because we were keen to find out what it is about women’s health in pregnancy that relates to infant sleep difficulties. We found several key factors that predict increased occurrence of persistent and severe infant sleep difficulties during the first year, including poor mental health and poor physical health.
Exactly how this happens is still being explored. When we looked at findings from other studies, results suggest that prenatal stress may change the way a baby’s brain develops. These changes in neural development may make it harder for their brains to sustain long periods of sleep.
What does this mean for parents?
Your physical and mental health is important, valuable and must be protected.
Some babies will need help learning how to sleep for longer settled periods overnight.
If you struggled with your own wellbeing during pregnancy, and your baby has sleep difficulties, it’s not too late to turn this around.
Speak to your GP about any concerns you have for your physical health and ask for a referral to a psychologist to address stress or other concerns you have about your mental health.
Start tracking your baby’s sleep pattern in one of our sleep diaries and find time to talk to one of our Sleep Practitioners about how you can improve your baby’s sleep.
It’s never too late to work on sleep difficulties. We help children aged 0-5 years achieve better, more restful sleep. And often when sleep improves, so does parent wellbeing.
Sleep Practitioner