Sleep disturbance and neurobehavioral performance among postpartum women

Sleep Characteristics During the First Year Postpartum in a Cohort of Black and White Women

Study Objectives

The postpartum period is a unique time when sleep deficiency often occurs. Black and White adults are reported to have differences in sleep characteristics, but little is known if these differences exist in the postpartum period. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine sleep characteristics in a cohort of Black and White women from 6-8 weeks to 12 months postpartum.

Methods

Participants were 49 Black and 85 White women who gave birth to an infant at ≥37 weeks gestation. Participants were instructed to wear an Actiwatch for 7 days at 6-8 weeks, 4, 6, 9, and 12 months postpartum. Mixed-effects linear models with a race by time interaction were used to examine if characteristics differed between races over time.

Results

Only bedtime varied by race. White women had a later bedtime at 6-8 weeks compared to 6 months, but no significant change occurred for Black women. For the entire sample, average nighttime sleep duration increased from 385 minutes at 6-8 weeks to 404 minutes at 4 months postpartum. Percent sleep during the sleep interval and wake after sleep onset (WASO) improved by 6 and 9 months, respectively. However, average WASO remained >45 minutes and sleep efficiency <85% at all timepoints for both Black and White women. Compared to White women, Black women had significantly shorter sleep duration (range: 40.6-59.9 minutes shorter across all timepoints, p<0.0001) and time in bed (range: 17.5-67.6 minutes shorter, p=0.0046), and lower percent sleep (range: 0.7%-1.2% lower, p=0.0407) and sleep efficiency (range: 2.6%-5.7% lower, p=0.0005). Sociodemographic factors were associated with sleep outcomes in Black and White women while behavioral factors were associated with sleep outcomes in White women only.

Conclusion

While there were improvements in nighttime sleep duration and quality, sleep duration remained suboptimal, and quality remained poor throughout the first year postpartum. In this sample, differences existed in factors associated with sleep outcomes between Black and White women.

Postpartum sleep quality and physical activity profiles following elective cesarean delivery: a longitudinal prospective cohort pilot study utilizing a wearable actigraphy device

INTRODUCTION

While sleep and activity levels are impacted by childbirth, these changes before and after cesarean delivery are under explored. Few studies have characterized sleep and physical activity before and after cesarean delivery using objective measures. The aim of this study was to characterize sleep and activity before and after cesarean delivery using wrist-worn Actigraphy. Secondary aims were to explore associations between physical activity and sleep following scheduled cesarean delivery.

METHODS

Following IRB approval, ASA 2 and 3 patients aged 18-50 years, term gestation, singleton pregnancy, undergoing scheduled cesarean delivery under neuraxial anesthesia were invited to participate. Consented patients continuously wore an Actigraph GT9X device on their non-dominant wrist from 7 days prior to scheduled cesarean delivery until 28 days post-delivery. Sleep metrics included quality, duration, disruption and efficiency. Physical activity metrics included average daily moderate to vigorous physical activity bouts, metabolic equivalents (METs) and caloric expenditure. Granular data regarding sleep and activity were recorded and analyzed based on established algorithms and trend analysis using methodology previously described.

RESULTS

Among the 38 recruited patients, analyzable actigraphy data were available in 21 patients. Trend analysis from day -7 (pre-delivery) to 28 (post-delivery) demonstrated that most variables did not differ significantly, indicating that at month 1, most activity and sleeping variables returned to third trimester levels. Some metrics of sleep improved in the first week postpartum compared to third trimester, however, total sleep time worsened and did not recover by day 28 compared to the third trimester durations. Physical activity levels dropped significantly immediately after delivery, then improved from day 0 to 28 post-surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Most sleep and physical activity metrics return to third trimester levels by 1 month postpartum. Several sleep metrics such as sleep efficiency and awakening after sleep were better in the first postpartum week than in the third trimester of pregnancy, but total sleep continues to be significantly impacted at day 28 postpartum. Physical activity returns to third trimester levels by one month postpartum. Future studies are needed to identify risk factors for worse physical recovery and sleep following cesarean delivery and to compare metrics following different peripartum complications.

Attention control in the peripartum period: a longitudinal study

PURPOSE

Given research inconsistency, this study aimed to assess whether attention control changes from pregnancy to postpartum, focusing on the moderating role of maternal objective and subjective sleep. Our second objective was to evaluate attention control's role in predicting psychological outcomes in peripartum women.

METHOD

A cohort of 224 pregnant women completed the Antisaccade task, a measure of attention control, during the third trimester and again four months post-delivery. Objective and subjective sleep were measured using actigraphy and sleep diaries. Participants also completed questionnaires assessing depression, anxiety, emotion regulation, and maternal perceptions of the mother-infant relationship.

RESULTS

Attention control improved significantly from late pregnancy to postpartum (β = 0.91, p < .001). While objective sleep was not linked to attention control, poorer between-person subjective sleep was associated with better postpartum attention control (β = - 0.84, p < .001). Better within-person subjective sleep was associated with higher attention control during pregnancy (β = 0.87, p < .001), but a negative interaction with time (β = -1.5, p = .001) suggests a reverse trend postpartum. Attention control did not predict postpartum psychological outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Cognitive recovery may occur by four months postpartum, although the observed improvement could reflect practice effect. The novel finding of a negative association between subjective sleep and postpartum attention control may indicate better adaptation to perceived poor sleep or heightened attunement to sleep fluctuations in women with higher attention control. Attention control did not predict psychological outcomes, suggesting other factors may be more critical for maternal coping postpartum.

Factors Associated with Poor Sleep Quality in Postpartum Women: A Crossectional Study

Objective  This study aimed to analyze the factors associated with poor sleep quality in women in the postpartum period who were assisted in a municipality in central Brazil. Material and Methods  This is a cross-sectional study ( n  = 400) conducted virtually from 2020 to 2021. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, self-perceived sleep, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were assessed. Results  It was identified that 82% of postpartum women were between 18 and 35-years-old and had an average monthly household income of R$2,339.27 ± 1,812.95. It was also found that 33.50% (95% CI: 28.7-38.0) had sleep disorders (PSQI >10); 70.25% (95%CI 65.8-74.8) had poor sleep quality (PSQI >5); 57.4% (95% CI: 52.0-63.1) had inadequate sleep on weekdays/workdays; and 64.1% (95% CI 59.3-69.2) had unsuitable sleep on weekends/days off. It was found that the factors associated with sleep disturbance were: age between <18 years and >35 years ( p  = 0.048); difficulty to think clearly ( p  = 0.043); frequent sadness ( p  = 0.046); poor sleep quality; low income ( p  = 0.030); difficulty to think clearly ( p  = 0.013); and loss of interest in things ( p  = 0.030). As for sleep on weekdays, the associated factors were: marital status without a partner ( p  = 0.008); and being a victim of physical violence ( p  = 0.003). Finally, for sleep on weekends/off: nonwhite skin-color ( p  = 0.039); and having postpartum depression ( p  = 0.029). Conclusion  The findings of the present study call attention to the impacts of changes in women's bodies, behavior, and interpersonal relationships caused by the arrival of a newborn. We also highlight the need for a multidisciplinary and comprehensive medical approach in this period.

Sleep Quality in Individuals with and without Persistent Postpartum Hypertension

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to compare sleep quality at 1 year postpartum following a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDP) among individuals with persistent postpartum hypertension (HTN) compared with those with normal blood pressures (BPs).

STUDY DESIGN

We combined data from the Heart Health 4 New Moms pilot randomized trial (n = 118) and the Pathways prospective cohort study (n = 36). Individuals with a singleton pregnancy complicated by gestational HTN or preeclampsia underwent a research study visit at a mean 48.7 ± 9.5 weeks postpartum with standardized BP measurement and assessment of subjective sleep quality with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Persistent postpartum HTN was defined as Stage 1 HTN or greater (mean systolic BP ≥ 130 mm Hg or mean diastolic BP ≥ 80 mm Hg over three measurements at rest) or requiring antihypertensive medication. Statistical analysis was performed using univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

Of 154 individuals with an HDP included in the analysis, 84 (55%) were normotensive at 1 year postpartum and 70 (45%) had persistent postpartum HTN. Individuals with persistent postpartum HTN were more likely to be older, self-identify as Black race, have higher prepregnancy and 1-year postpartum body mass index (BMI), be multiparous, and deliver at an earlier gestational age. The mean global PSQI score was 8.7 ± 3.7, with 81% reporting poor sleep (PSQI > 5), and scores were higher among individuals who were persistently hypertensive (9.6 ± 3.5) compared with those who were normotensive at 1 year postpartum (7.9 ± 3.6), p < 0.01. Findings were unchanged in a multivariable model adjusting for age, self-reported race, prepregnancy BMI, and parity.

CONCLUSION

Following an HDP, individuals reported poor sleep quality at 1 year postpartum. Individuals with persistent postpartum HTN reported lower sleep quality, suggesting that sleep behavior may be a target for intervention to improve maternal cardiovascular health following an HDP.

KEY POINTS

· After an HDP, poor sleep quality was common at 1 year postpartum.. · Those with persistent postpartum HTN reported worse sleep quality at 1 year postpartum.. · Sleep behavior may be a target for intervention to improve maternal cardiovascular health..

Prevalence and predictors for postpartum sleep disorders: a nationwide analysis

OBJECTIVE

To describe the prevalence and predictors of postpartum sleep disorders.

DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Postpartum.

POPULATION

Commercially insured women delivering in California (USA) between 2011 and 2014.

METHODS

Using the Optum Clinformatics Datamart Database.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Prevalence of a postpartum sleep disorder diagnosis with and without a depression diagnosis up to 12 months following hospital discharge for inpatient delivery. We also identified predictors of a postpartum sleep disorder diagnosis using multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS

We identified 3535 (1.9%) women with a postpartum sleep disorder diagnosis. The prevalence of sleep disorder diagnoses was insomnia (1.3%), sleep apnea (0.25%), and other sleep disorder (0.25%). The odds of a postpartum sleep disorder were highest among women with a history of drug abuse (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 2.70, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.79-4.09); a stillbirth delivery (aOR: 2.15, 95% CI: 1.53-3.01); and chronic hypertension (aOR: 1.82; 95% CI: 1.57-2.11). A comorbid diagnosis of a postpartum sleep disorder and depression occurred in 1182 women (0.6%). These women accounted for 33.4% of all women with a postpartum sleep disorder. The strongest predictors of a comorbid diagnosis were a history of drug abuse (aOR: 4.13; 95% CI: 2.37-7.21) and a stillbirth delivery (aOR: 2.93; 95% CI: 1.74-4.92).

CONCLUSIONS

Postpartum sleep disorders are underdiagnosed conditions, with only 2% of postpartum women in this cohort receiving a sleep diagnosis using International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes. Insomnia was the most common disorder and one-third of women diagnosed with a postpartum sleep disorder had a co-morbid diagnosis of depression. Future studies are needed to improve the screening and diagnostic accuracy of postpartum sleep disorders.

The Integration of the Maternal Care with Sleep During the Postpartum Period

Our entire life occurs in a constant alternation between wakefulness and sleep. The impossibility of living without sleep implies that any behavior must adapt to the need for sleep, and maternal behavior does not escape from this determination. Additionally, maternal behavior in mammals is a highly motivated behavior, essential for the survival of the offspring. Thus, the mother has to adapt her physiology of sleep to the constant demands of the pups, where each species will have different strategies to merge these two physiological needs. However, all studied female mammals will experience sleep disturbances at some point of the postpartum period.

Mental health and sleep quality of low-income mothers of one-year-olds during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent social restrictions created an unprecedented context for families raising young children. Although studies have documented detrimental effects of the pandemic on maternal well-being, less is known about how the pandemic specifically impacted low-income mothers. We examined depression, anxiety, and sleep quality among low-income mothers of one-year-olds during the early months of the pandemic using data from the Baby's First Years study. Focusing on the control group (n = 547), we compared mothers interviewed before March 14th, 2020 (n = 342) to mothers interviewed between March 14th and June 30th, 2020 (n = 205) to determine whether the pandemic was associated with differences in mental health and sleep quality. Mothers were recruited from four cities in the United States, and most of the sample identified as Hispanic (42.2%) or Black, non-Hispanic (38.6%). We found that mothers interviewed during the pandemic reported better mental health and sleep quality. While we cannot speak to longer-term impacts of the pandemic, it is possible low-income mothers experienced relief from daily stressors during the initial shelter-in-place orders, which may have led to improvements in well-being. These results have implications for understanding how complex life stressors influence mental health and sleep quality among low-income mothers raising young children.

The relationship between fatigue, sleep quality, resilience, and the risk of postpartum depression: an emphasis on maternal mental health

BACKGROUND

Several factors can contribute to the development of postpartum depression (PPD) and negatively affect mothers' mental and physical well-being. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between fatigue, sleep quality, resilience, and the risk of PPD development.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire distributed to mothers during their postpartum period. The risk of PPD was assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), postpartum fatigue (PPF) was assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and resilience was assessed using the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS). The Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated to determine the relationship between the study variables. Simple and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to explain the contributions of PPF, sleep quality, and resilience as independent predictors of PPD development.

RESULTS

A total of 1409 postpartum women were included in the analysis, with 75% of the participants reporting a risk of PPD, 61% reporting PPF, 97% reporting having sleep problems, and 36% being in the "low resilience level" category. In terms of correlations, the scores of FSS and the PSQI showed moderate positive relationships with the EPDS scores (r = 0.344 and r = 0.447, respectively, p = .000). The BRS scores were negatively associated with the EPDS scores (r = -0.530, p = 0.000). Fatigue, sleep quality, and resilience were predictors of depressive symptoms (β = 0.127, β = 0.262, and β = -0.393, respectively, R² = 0.37, p = 0.000). The association remained significant in the regression model after adjusting for mother's age, mother's BMI, child's age, smoking status, full-term pregnancy, having a chronic disease, and taking anti-depressant.

CONCLUSIONS

Mothers with higher levels of fatigue, poor sleep quality, and low resilience levels were at high risk of developing PPD. Healthcare providers should identify these factors and thus set better rehabilitation goals to improve overall maternal health.

A magnetoencephalography study of first-time mothers listening to infant cries

Studies using magnetoencephalography (MEG) have identified the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) to be an important early hub for a “parental instinct” in the brain. This complements the finding from functional magnetic resonance imaging studies linking reward, emotion regulation, empathy, and mentalization networks to the “parental brain.” Here, we used MEG in 43 first-time mothers listening to infant and adult cry vocalizations to investigate the link with mother–infant postpartum bonding scores and their level of sleep deprivation (assessed using both actigraphy and sleep logs). When comparing brain responses to infant versus adult cry vocalizations, we found significant differences at around 800–1,000 ms after stimuli onset in the primary auditory cortex, superior temporal gyrus, hippocampal areas, insula, precuneus supramarginal gyrus, postcentral gyrus, and posterior cingulate gyrus. Importantly, mothers with weaker bonding scores showed decreased brain responses to infant cries in the auditory cortex, middle and superior temporal gyrus, OFC, hippocampal areas, supramarginal gyrus, and inferior frontal gyrus at around 100–300 ms after the stimulus onset. In contrast, we did not find correlations with sleep deprivation scores. The significant decreases in brain processing of an infant’s distress signals could potentially be a novel signature of weaker infant bonding in new mothers and should be investigated in vulnerable populations.

Examining Patient Feedback and the Role of Cognitive Arousal in Treatment Non-response to Digital Cognitive-behavioral Therapy for Insomnia during Pregnancy

OBJECTIVE

Insomnia affects over half of pregnant and postpartum women. Early evidence indicates that cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTI) improves maternal sleep and mood. However, standard CBTI may be less efficacious in perinatal women than the broader insomnia population. This study sought to identify patient characteristics in a perinatal sample associated with poor response to CBTI, and characterize patient feedback to identify areas of insomnia therapy to tailor for the perinatal experience.

PARTICIPANTS

Secondary analysis of 46 pregnant women with insomnia symptoms who were treated with digital CBTI in a randomized controlled trial.

METHODS

We assessed insomnia, cognitive arousal, and depression before and after prenatal treatment, then 6 weeks postpartum. Patients provided feedback on digital CBTI.

RESULTS

Residual cognitive arousal after treatment was the most robust factor associated with treatment non-response. Critically, CBTI responders and non-responders differed on no other sociodemographic or pretreatment metrics. After childbirth, short sleep (<6 hrs/night) was associated with maternal reports of poor infant sleep quality. Patient feedback indicated that most patients preferred online treatment to in-person treatment. Although women described digital CBTI as convenient and helpful, many patients indicated that insomnia therapy would be improved if it addressed sleep challenges unique to pregnancy and postpartum. Patients requested education on maternal and infant sleep, flexibility in behavioral sleep strategies, and guidance to manage infant sleep.

CONCLUSIONS

Modifying insomnia therapy to better alleviate refractory cognitive arousal and address the changing needs of women as they progress through pregnancy and early parenting may increase efficacy for perinatal insomnia.Name: Insomnia and Rumination in Late Pregnancy and the Risk for Postpartum DepressionURL: clinicaltrials.govRegistration: NCT03596879.

A systematic review of patient-reported outcome measures used to assess sleep in postpartum women using Consensus Based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) guidelines

STUDY OBJECTIVES

We performed a systematic review to identify the best patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) of postpartum sleep in women.

METHODS

We searched 4 databases for validated PROMs used to assess postpartum sleep. Studies were considered if they evaluated at least 1 psychometric measurement property of a PROM. An overall rating was assigned for each psychometric measurement property of each PROM based upon COSMIN criteria. A modified GRADE approach was used to assess the level of evidence and recommendations were then made for each PROM.

RESULTS

We identified 15 validation studies of 8 PROMs, in 9,070 postpartum women. An adequate number of sleep domains was assessed by 5 PROMs: Bergen Insomnia Scale (BIS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), General Sleep Disturbance Scale (GSDS), Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) and the Sleep Symptom Checklist (SSC). BIS and GSDS were the only PROMs to demonstrate adequate content validity and at least a low level of evidence of sufficient internal consistency, resulting in Class A recommendations. The BIS was the only PROM, which is easily accessible and free to use for non-commercial research, that achieved a Class A recommendation.

CONCLUSION

The BIS is the best currently available PROM of postpartum sleep. However, this PROM fails to assess several important domains such as sleep duration (and efficiency), chronotype, sleep-disordered breathing and medication usage. Future studies should focus on evaluating the psychometric measurement properties of BIS in the North American setting and in different cultural groups, or to develop a more specific PROM of postpartum sleep.

Mid-Pregnancy Insomnia and its Association with Perinatal Depressive Symptoms: A Prospective Cohort Study

Objective/Background: Insomnia and depression are disorders that affect many perinatal women and that often are interrelated. The present study aimed to examine concurrent and prospective associations between mid-pregnancy insomnia and depression during mid-pregnancy and 8 weeks postpartum. Furthermore, differences in depression and in the sleep-related characteristics insomnia, chronotype, and sleep efficiency were explored between the two time points (mid-pregnancy versus 8 weeks postpartum), and between primiparous and multiparous participants.Participants/Methods: The study was part of the Norwegian population-based Depression and Anxiety in the Perinatal Period (DAPP) prospective cohort study. Among 539 women that were recruited for participation when receiving a routine ultrasound examination, we analyzed data from hospital birth records and questionnaire responses from pregnancy week 17 and postpartum week 8. We used the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale to measure depression. The Bergen Insomnia Scale, the reduced Horne-Östberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, and three questions from the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were used to measure the sleep-related characteristics.Results: Mid-pregnancy insomnia was significantly associated with concurrent depression (p < .001), but not with postpartum depression (p = .288), in a linear mixed model with adjustment for several reproductive and psychosocial variables. Sleep efficiency was reduced from mid-pregnancy to postpartum (from 88% to 77%), and primiparous women reported less efficient sleep than multiparous women after childbirth.Conclusions: The results indicate that mid-pregnancy insomnia may be a marker for concurrent depression but not a predictor of postpartum depression. Future research should examine the extent to which treatment of insomnia from mid-pregnancy on reduces both perinatal insomnia and depression.

Long-term effects of pregnancy and childbirth on sleep satisfaction and duration of first-time and experienced mothers and fathers

STUDY OBJECTIVES

To examine the changes in mothers' and fathers' sleep satisfaction and sleep duration across prepregnancy, pregnancy, and the postpartum period of up to 6 years after birth; it also sought to determine potential protective and risk factors for sleep during that time.

METHODS

Participants in a large population-representative panel study from Germany reported sleep satisfaction and sleep duration in yearly interviews. During the observation period (2008-2015), 2541 women and 2118 men reported the birth of their first, second, or third child and provided longitudinal data for analysis. Fixed-effects regression models were used to analyze changes in sleep associated with childbirth.

RESULTS

Sleep satisfaction and duration sharply declined with childbirth and reached a nadir during the first 3 months postpartum, with women more strongly affected (sleep satisfaction reduction compared with prepregnancy: women, 1.81 points on a 0 to 10 scale, d = 0.79 vs. men, 0.37 points, d = 0.16; sleep duration reduction compared with prepregnancy: women, 62 min, d = 0.90 vs. men, 13 min, d = 0.19). In both women and men, sleep satisfaction and duration did not fully recover for up to 6 years after the birth of their first child. Breastfeeding was associated with a slight decrease in maternal sleep satisfaction (0.72 points, d = 0.32) and duration (14 min, d = 0.21). Parental age, household income, and dual vs. single parenting were unrelated, or only very weakly related, to improved sleep.

CONCLUSIONS

Following the sharp decline in sleep satisfaction and duration in the first months postpartum, neither mothers' nor fathers' sleep fully recovers to prepregnancy levels up to 6 years after the birth of their first child.

Mother-Infant Sleep and Maternal Emotional Distress in Solo-Mother and Two-Parent Families

OBJECTIVE

This study examined for the first time mother-infant sleep and emotional distress in solo mother families compared with two-parent families and explored whether the links between mother-infant sleep and maternal emotional distress differ as a function of family structure.

METHODS

Thirty-nine solo-mother families and 39 two-parent families, with an infant within the age range of 6-18 months participated in the study. Actigraphy and sleep diaries were used to assess maternal and infant sleep at home. Mothers completed questionnaires to assess maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms, social support, sleeping arrangements, breastfeeding, and demographics.

RESULTS

Solo mothers were older and more likely to breastfeed and share a bed with their infants than married mothers. There were no significant differences between the groups in mother-infant sleep and maternal emotional distress, while controlling for maternal age, breastfeeding, and sleeping arrangements. Family structure had a moderating effect on the associations between maternal emotional distress and mother-infant sleep. Only in solo-mother families, higher maternal emotional distress was associated with lower maternal and infant sleep quality.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that, although there are no significant differences in maternal and infant sleep between solo-mother families and two-parent families, the strength of the associations between maternal emotional distress and both infant and maternal sleep quality are stronger in solo-mother families, compared with two-parent families. Hopefully, understanding which aspects of parenting may contribute to the development of sleep problems in solo-mother families could be helpful in tailoring interventions to this growing population.

Delayed sleep timing and circadian rhythms in pregnancy and transdiagnostic symptoms associated with postpartum depression

Later sleep timing, circadian preference, and circadian rhythm timing predict worse outcomes across multiple domains, including mood disorders, substance use, impulse control, and cognitive function. Disturbed sleep is common among pregnant and postpartum women. We examined whether sleep timing during third trimester of pregnancy predicted postpartum symptoms of mania, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Fifty-one women with a previous, but not active, episode of unipolar or bipolar depression had symptoms evaluated and sleep recorded with wrist actigraphy at 33 weeks of gestation and 2, 6, and 16 weeks postpartum. Circadian phase was measured in a subset of women using salivary dim light melatonin onset (DLMO). We divided the sample into "early sleep" and "late sleep" groups using average sleep onset time at 33 weeks of gestation, defined by the median-split time of 11:27 p.m. The "late sleep" group reported significantly more manic and depressive symptoms at postpartum week 2. Longer phase angle between DLMO and sleep onset at 33 weeks was associated with more manic symptoms at postpartum week 2 and more obsessive-compulsive symptoms at week 6. Delayed sleep timing in this sample of at-risk women was associated with more symptoms of mania, depression, and OCD in the postpartum period. Sleep timing may be a modifiable risk factor for postpartum depression.

Mothers' postpartum sleep disturbance is associated with the ability to sustain sensitivity toward infants

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE

Infancy is a period of rapid development when the quality of caregiving behavior may be particularly consequential for children's long-term functioning. During this critical period for caregiving behavior, parents experience changes in their sleep that may affect their ability to provide sensitive care. The current study investigated the association of mothers' sleep disturbance with both levels and trajectories of maternal sensitivity during interactions with their infants.

METHODS

At 18 weeks postpartum, mothers and their infants were observed during a home-based 10-minute "free play" interaction. Mothers' nighttime sleep was objectively measured using actigraphy and subjectively measured using sleep diaries. Maternal sensitivity was coded in two-minute intervals in order to characterize changes in sensitivity across the free play interaction. We used exploratory factor analysis to reduce the dimensionality of the objective and subjective measures of mothers' sleep, identifying a subjective sleep disturbance and an objective sleep continuity factor.

RESULTS

Using multi-level modeling, we found that mothers with poorer objective sleep continuity evidenced decreasing sensitivity toward their infants across the interaction. Mothers' self-reports of sleep disturbance were not associated with maternal sensitivity.

CONCLUSIONS

Although future research is necessary to identify the mechanisms that may explain the observed association between poor sleep continuity and the inability to sustain sensitivity toward infants, mothers' postpartum sleep continuity may be one factor to consider when designing interventions to improve the quality of caregiving.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01846585.

More than depression: a multi-dimensional assessment of postpartum distress symptoms before and after a residential early parenting program

INTRODUCTION

Parents are vulnerable to psychological distress symptoms in the postpartum period. It is routine to screen for depressive symptoms, but anxiety, stress, fatigue, irritability and insomnia symptoms are less often assessed despite their prevalence. This study aimed to assess multiple dimensions of psychological distress, and their reliable change and clinically significant change among women admitted to a residential program for assistance with unsettled infant behaviors (UIB).

METHOD

Women admitted to a five-night residential early parenting program completed self-report measures: the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, Irritability Depression Anxiety Scale, Fatigue Severity Scale, and Insomnia Severity Index. A sub-group completed a computerized emotional Go-NoGo (EGNG) task as a measure of emotional impulsivity.

RESULTS

Seventy-eight women were recruited (Mage = 34.46, SDage = 4.16). On admission, 48% of women reported clinically elevated depressive symptoms and 97.5% of women not reporting elevated depressive symptoms reported clinical elevations in at least one other form of distress. Upon discharge, all self-report distress symptoms were significantly reduced (all p-values <.001), but reliable and clinically significant change only occurred in a subgroup of women. There were no significant changes in indicators of impulsivity based on the EGNG.

CONCLUSIONS

In addition to, and often in the absence of, depressive symptoms, women attending an early parenting program experienced a wide range of psychological distress, including fatigue, insomnia, anxiety and stress. Different forms of distress improved in different magnitudes to the treatment provided. These findings highlight the need for a multi-dimensional approach in the assessment and treatment of postpartum distress.

Perinatal Sleep Problems: Causes, Complications, and Management

Changes in sleep are ubiquitous in the perinatal period and it is important to be able to determine when these changes are significant enough to indicate sleep deficiency associated with increased risk for poor maternal and infant outcomes. Guidelines for identifying sleep deficiency include insomnia symptoms, excessively shortened sleep duration, and perception of insufficient or nonrestful sleep. Causes and complicating factors related to such sleep problems have been well-documented and are used to tailor behavioral and pharmacologic treatments for women who are pregnant or in the early postpartum period.

Maternal Executive Function and Sleep Interact in the Prediction of Negative Parenting

Objective/Background: Poorer executive function (EF) has been implicated in the etiology of negative parenting (e.g., harsh, reactive, intrusive). EF may be affected by good or poor quality sleep, and thus sleep may be involved in negative parenting. In the current exploratory study, we investigated the additive and interactive effects of maternal EF and sleep indicators in the statistical prediction of negative parenting. Patients/Methods: A sample of 241 mothers of 2.5-year-olds (51% girls) completed questionnaires, wore wrist actigraphs for one week, and completed several EF tasks during a laboratory visit. Results/Conclusions: We found that sleep activity (e.g., nighttime waking and movements) interacted with EF in predicting negative parenting practices, such that poorer EF was linked with more negative parenting only in the context of higher levels of night waking. Sleep duration also interacted with EF, such that EF and parenting were no longer associated when sleep durations were short. The findings have implications for incorporating sleep into our understanding of maternal cognitive self-regulation and harsh parenting during early childhood development.

Trajectories of sleep quality from late pregnancy to 36 months postpartum and association with maternal mood disturbances: a longitudinal and prospective cohort study

Study Objectives

To examine trajectories of poor sleep quality from late pregnancy to 36 months postpartum, baseline indicators, and association with prospective maternal mood disturbances.

Methods

A cohort of 262 nonclinical women was followed at late pregnancy, 42 days, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months postpartum. Sleep quality was measured with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index at all time points, and mood disturbances were assessed at late pregnancy and 36 months postpartum.

Results

The rate of poor sleep quality followed an inverted U-shaped curve. Women reporting poor sleep quality at late pregnancy held a consistently higher risk of poor sleep quality at postpartum points. Three sleep trajectories were distinguished, namely, the stable-low (29.4%), the decreasing-mild (56.5%), and the stable-high (14.1%). Poor sleep quality, depression, and anxiety at baseline were linked to trajectory groups with poorer sleep quality. Adjusting for covariates, the trajectory of the poorer sleep quality group demonstrated increased mood disturbances at 36 months postpartum. Replicating the analyses in women without baseline symptoms of depression and anxiety above clinical cutoffs obtained similar results.

Conclusions

Women are vulnerable to poor sleep quality from late pregnancy to postpartum years, but follow distinct trajectories. Poor sleep quality, depression, and anxiety at late pregnancy help us to anticipate the sleep trajectories. Trajectories of poor sleep quality indicate increased mood disturbances at 36 months postpartum. A flexible suite of interventions targeting both poor sleep quality and mood disturbances should be implemented and tailored to women in the prenatal and postpartum periods.

Sleep Quality and Quantity in Low-Income Postpartum Women

PURPOSE

To describe and explore patterns of postpartum sleep, fatigue, and depressive symptoms in low-income urban women.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

In this descriptive, exploratory, nonexperimental study, participants were recruited from an inpatient postpartum unit. Subjective measures were completed by 132 participants across five time points. Objective sleep/wake patterns were measured by 72-hour wrist actigraphy at 4 and 8 weeks. Mean sample age was 25 years, high school educated with 3.1 children. Over half the sample reported an annual income less than 50% of the federal poverty level.

RESULTS

Objectively, total nighttime sleep was 5.5 hours (week 4) and 5.4 hours (week 8). Subjectively, 85% met criteria for "poor sleep quality" at week 4, and nearly half were persistently and severely fatigued through 8 weeks postpartum.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

The majority (65%) of women in this study met the definition of "short sleep duration," defined as sleeping ≤ 6 hours per night. Adverse effects of this short sleep on physical and mental health as well as safety and functioning, especially within the context of poverty, may be profound. There is an urgent need for further research on sleep in low-income underrepresented women to identify interventions that can improve sleep and fatigue as well as discern the implications of sleep deprivation on the safety and physical and mental health of this population.

How Postpartum Women With Depressive Symptoms Manage Sleep Disruption and Fatigue

Postpartum sleep and fatigue have bidirectional relationships with depressive symptoms and challenge women's everyday functioning. The everyday process of managing postpartum sleep and fatigue in the context of depressive symptoms remains unexplored. We conducted a grounded theory study with a sample of 19 women who screened positive on the Postpartum Depression Screening Scale (PDSS™) Short Form at 3 weeks postpartum. Women completed semi-structured in-home interviews and the full PDSS and Modified Fatigue Symptoms Checklist at 1, 3, and 6 months postpartum. The sample was on average 27 years old, with 2.8 children, and 63% were African-American. They described a basic social process of Finding a Routine Together, during which women's experiences with their infants progressed from Retreating at month 1 toward Finding a New Normal at month 6. In their work to Find a Routine Together, mothers' patterns of change over time were continuous, gradual, or prolonged. Their progress was influenced by depressive symptoms, social support, work and daycare, stability in social circumstances, and underlying stressors. This study's findings suggest the need to allocate resources and tailor interventions to meet the needs of women who are most vulnerable to the health effects of ongoing persistent severe fatigue, disordered sleep, and sub-clinical and clinical levels of depressive symptoms. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Sleep disturbances and memory impairment among pregnant women consuming khat: An under-recognized problem

Khat (Catha edulis) is a evergreen flowering shrub that is cultivated at high altitudes, especially in East Africa and the southwest of the Arabian Peninsula. The plant contains alkaloids, of which cathinone and cathine have structural similarity and pharmacological action similar to amphetamines. The leaves are, therefore, consumed in some regions as a psychoactive stimulant due to cultural beliefs and misperceptions on the health benefits of khat consumption. This resulted in a growing prevalence of khat consumption among pregnant women. The myriad of physiological changes associated with pregnancy impairs sleep and memory. Moreover, khat has also been shown to have adverse effects on memory and sleep. Therefore, its use during pregnancy may further aggravate those impairments. The purpose of this mini-review is to summarize the changes in sleep and memory during pregnancy and the evidence supporting a relationship between khat consumption and neurocognitive deficits and sleep dysfunctions. The misperceptions of beneficial effects of khat, the high prevalence of consumption among pregnant women, and the possibility of under-reporting of khat abuse do necessitate the development of alternative methodologies to identify cases of unreported khat abuse in pregnant women. It is proposed that screening for sleep problems and memory deficits may help identify under-reported cases of khat abuse in pregnant women.

A Preliminary Study of New Parents, Sleep Disruption, and Driving: A Population at Risk?

BACKGROUND

Drowsy driving is estimated to be a causal factor in 2-16 % of vehicular crashes. Several populations are reported to be at high risk for drowsy driving accidents, including shift workers, teenage drivers, medical residents, and pilots. Although new parents are known to have significant sleep disruption, no study has investigated vehicular accidents or near miss accidents in this population.

METHODS

A preliminary cross-sectional, anonymous survey of parents who had given birth within the previous 12 months. Participants were asked about their sleep, including validated measures of sleep disruption, their driving patterns, and information about near miss traffic accidents and actual crashes.

RESULTS

Overall, 72 participants were enrolled. A large proportion of participants had poor sleep including approximately 30 % with daytime sleepiness, 60 % with poor daytime function and two-thirds with poor sleep quality. The mean sleep duration was only 6.4 h. Although most participants drove <100 miles per week, 22.2 % reported at least one near miss accident and 5.6 % reported a crash. Sleep problems were more common in those with near miss accidents and actual crashes than in those without. Of note, poor sleep quality was associated with a sixfold increase in near miss accidents even after accounting for other factors.

CONCLUSION

Poor sleep is common in new parents and we provide preliminary evidence that sleep disruption in this population is associated with near miss motor vehicle accidents. Drowsy driving results in thousands of unnecessary serious injuries and fatalities each year; raising public awareness that new parents are a high-risk group is important.

Postpartum Maternal Sleep, Maternal Depressive Symptoms and Self-Perceived Mother-Infant Emotional Relationship

This study examined the links between maternal sleep, maternal depressive symptoms, and mothers' perceptions of their emotional relationship with their infant in a self-recruited sample of mothers. Eighty mothers of infants 3-18 months old completed sleep diaries for 5 consecutive nights, and questionnaires assessing sleep (Insomnia Severity Index [ISI]), depressive symptom severity (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale [EPDS]), and perceived mother-infant relationship (Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire [PBQ] and Maternal Postnatal Attachment Questionnaire [MPAQ]). Significant correlations, controlling for depression severity, were found between more disturbed maternal sleep and more negative maternal perceptions of the mother-infant relationship. Regression analyses revealed that EPDS showed the strongest association with PBQ, whereas ISI demonstrated the strongest association with MPAQ. The present study highlights the importance of deepening and expanding our understanding of the negative implications of maternal sleep problems.

Infant sleep and feeding patterns are associated with maternal sleep, stress, and depressed mood in women with a history of major depressive disorder (MDD)

Our goal was to examine associations of infant sleep and feeding patterns with maternal sleep and mood among women at risk for postpartum depression. Participants were 30 women (age ± SD = 28.3 ± 5.1 years) with a history of MDD (but not in a mood episode at enrollment) who completed daily sleep diaries, wore wrist actigraphs to estimate sleep, and had their mood assessed with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D-17) during four separate weeks of the perinatal period (33 weeks pregnancy and weeks 2, 6, and 16 postpartum). They logged their infants' sleep and feeding behaviors daily and reported postnatal stress on the Childcare Stress Inventory (CSI) at week 16. Mothers' actigraphically estimated sleep showed associations with infant sleep and feeding patterns only at postpartum week 2. Shorter duration of the longest infant-sleep bout was associated with shorter maternal sleep duration (p = .02) and lower sleep efficiency (p = .04), and maternal sleep efficiency was negatively associated with the number of infant-sleep bouts (p = .008) and duration of infant feeding (p = .008). Neither infant sleep nor feeding was associated with maternal sleep at 6 or 16 weeks, but more disturbed infant sleep and more frequent feeding at 6 weeks were associated with higher HAM-D scores at 6 and 16 weeks and higher CSI scores. Sleep in the mother-infant dyad is most tightly linked in the early postpartum weeks, but mothers continue to experience disturbed sleep and infant sleep and feeding behaviors continue to be associated with mothers' depressive symptoms and stress ratings as long as 16 weeks postpartum. These data imply that interventions designed to improve maternal sleep and postpartum mood should include both mothers and infants because improving infant sleep alone is not likely to improve maternal sleep, and poor infant sleep is linked to postpartum depression and stress.

Effects of a single night of postpartum sleep on childless women's daytime functioning

STUDY OBJECTIVES

The maternal postpartum period is characterized by sleep fragmentation, which is associated with daytime impairment, mental health disturbances, and changes in melatonin patterns. In addition to sleep fragmentation, women undergo a complex set of physiological and environmental changes upon entering the postpartum period, confounding our understanding of effects of postpartum sleep disturbance. The primary study aim was to understand the basic impact of a single night of postpartum-like sleep fragmentation on sleep architecture, nocturnal melatonin levels, mood, daytime sleepiness, and neurobehavioral performance.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS

For one week prior to entry into the laboratory, eleven healthy nulliparous women kept a stable sleep-wake schedule (verified via actigraphy). Participants contributed three consecutive nights of laboratory overnight polysomnography: (1) a habituation/sleep disorder screening night; (2) a baseline night; and (3) a sleep fragmentation night, when participants were awakened three times for ~30min each. Self-reported sleep quality and mood (Profile of Mood States survey) both decreased significantly after sleep fragmentation compared to baseline measurements. Unexpectedly, daytime sleepiness (Multiple Sleep Latency Test) decreased significantly after sleep fragmentation. Experimental fragmentation had no significant effect on time spent in nocturnal sleep stages, urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin concentration, or psychomotor vigilance test performance. Participants continued to provide actigraphy data, and daily PVTs and self-reported sleep quality assessments at home for one week following sleep fragmentation; these assessments did not differ from baseline values.

CONCLUSIONS

While there were no changes in measured physiological components of a single night of postpartum-like experimental sleep fragmentation, there were decreases in self-reported measures of mood and sleep quality. Future research should examine the effects of multiple nights of modeling postpartum-like sleep fragmentation on objective measures of sleep and daytime functioning.

"It's Not All About My Baby's Sleep": A Qualitative Study of Factors Influencing Low-Income African American Mothers' Sleep Quality

Low-income African American mothers are at particular risk for poor postpartum sleep. This study sought to understand facilitators and barriers that exist to getting a good night's sleep among these high-risk mothers. Semistructured interviews with 18 low-income African Americans (3-6 months postpartum) were conducted. Most mothers described their own sleep quality to be poor, despite the fact that their babies' sleep improved substantially from the newborn period. Mothers kept themselves awake due to their own internal worry and anxiety, along with external factors that were largely independent of babies' sleep, including work and school commitments and the home environment. For the few mothers with good sleep quality, time management and family support were strong facilitators. Findings lay the groundwork for sleep improvement interventions.

Sleep in mother and child dyads during treatment for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES

To compare the sleep of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) during maintenance treatment with controls and to measure the effect on maternal sleep.

DESIGN

Comparative, descriptive.

SETTING

Pediatric oncology clinic and communities in Colorado.

SAMPLE

26 dyads of mothers and children with ALL and matched controls.

METHODS

Mothers completed insomnia severity, mood, and stress questionnaires and wore a wrist actigraph, and mothers and children completed a seven-day sleep diary.

MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES

Mother and child sleep parameters (e.g., total sleep time, sleep latency, sleep efficiency, awakenings); maternal insomnia severity, mood, and stress; child sleep habits.

FINDINGS

Mothers of children with ALL reported greater insomnia compared to controls, which was correlated with anxiety, depressive symptoms, and stress. Maternal groups did not differ on diary- and actigraph-measured sleep outcomes; both groups experienced sleep fragmentation. Children with ALL took longer to fall asleep and had more variable sleep patterns.

CONCLUSIONS

Actigraph and sleep diary data indicated adequate maternal sleep duration and sleep latency. Self-reported insomnia severity in mothers of children with ALL suggested sleep fragmentation that may be undetected by these measures.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING

Oncology nurses are in a unique position to identify sleep problems in mothers and children with ALL, which may lead to recommendations for improved sleep and referrals for treatment.

HIV-infected mothers' experiences during their infants' HIV testing

Both survival with HIV and rates of perinatal HIV infection have significantly declined during the past decade, due to antiretroviral therapies that interrupt HIV transmission to the fetus and newborn. Although HIV is no longer routinely fatal to mothers or transmitted to fetuses, and the testing of newborns for HIV has been improved, evidence about HIV-infected mothers' experiences during the months of their infants' HIV testing predates these improvements. This qualitative study on 16 mothers was an analysis of interviews conducted several weeks after testing was completed and all infants had been determined to be uninfected. Mothers reported that their experiences evolved during the months of testing. Initial reactions included maternal trauma and guilt associated with infant testing. They then reported learning to cope with the roller coaster ride of repeated testing with the help of information from clinicians. By the end of the testing period, ambiguity began to resolve as they engaged in tentative maternal-infant attachment and expressed desire for a sense of normalcy. Need for support and fear of stigma persisted throughout. These findings expand current knowledge about this experience and suggest clinical strategies to guide HIV-infected women during this stressful period.

Longitudinal change in sleep and daytime sleepiness in postpartum women

Sleep disruption strongly influences daytime functioning; resultant sleepiness is recognised as a contributing risk-factor for individuals performing critical and dangerous tasks. While the relationship between sleep and sleepiness has been heavily investigated in the vulnerable sub-populations of shift workers and patients with sleep disorders, postpartum women have been comparatively overlooked. Thirty-three healthy, postpartum women recorded every episode of sleep and wake each day during postpartum weeks 6, 12 and 18. Although repeated measures analysis revealed there was no significant difference in the amount of nocturnal sleep and frequency of night-time wakings, there was a significant reduction in sleep disruption, due to fewer minutes of wake after sleep onset. Subjective sleepiness was measured each day using the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale; at the two earlier time points this was significantly correlated with sleep quality but not to sleep quantity. Epworth Sleepiness Scores significantly reduced over time; however, during week 18 over 50% of participants were still experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Score ≥12). Results have implications for health care providers and policy makers. Health care providers designing interventions to address sleepiness in new mothers should take into account the dynamic changes to sleep and sleepiness during this initial postpartum period. Policy makers developing regulations for parental leave entitlements should take into consideration the high prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness experienced by new mothers, ensuring enough opportunity for daytime sleepiness to diminish to a manageable level prior to reengagement in the workforce.

Effects of one night of induced night-wakings versus sleep restriction on sustained attention and mood: a pilot study

OBJECTIVE

Despite their high prevalence in daily life, repeated night-wakings and their cognitive and emotional consequences have received less research attention compared to other types of sleep disturbances. Our aim was to experimentally compare the effects of one night of induced infrequent night-wakings (of ∼15 min, each requiring a purposeful response) and sleep restriction on sustained attention and mood in young adults.

METHODS

In a within-between subjects counterbalanced design, 61 healthy adults (40 females; aged 20-29 years) underwent home assessments of sustained attention and self-reported mood at two times: after a normal (control) sleep night, and after a night of either sleep restriction (4h in bed) or induced night-wakings (four prolonged awakenings across 8h in bed). Sleep was monitored using actigraphy and sleep diaries. Sustained attention was assessed using an online continuous performance test (OCPT), and mood was reported online using the Profile of Mood States (POMS).

RESULTS

Actigraphic data revealed good compliance with experimental sleep requirements. Induced night-wakings and sleep restriction both resulted in more OCPT omission and commission errors, and in increased depression, fatigue and confusion levels and reduced vigor compared to the normal sleep night. Moreover, there were no significant differences between the consequences of induced awakenings and sleep restriction.

CONCLUSIONS

Our pilot study indicates that, similar to sleep restriction, one night of life-like repeated night-wakings negatively affects mood and sustained attention.

Diurnal fatigue patterns, sleep timing, and mental health outcomes among healthy postpartum women

Postpartum women have frequently interrupted sleep, report high levels of fatigue, and may experience circadian rhythm disruptions. They are also susceptible to mood impairments, anxiety, and stress. The current study explored associations between maternal postpartum daily fatigue patterns, which should vary according to circadian influences and mental health. Seventy-one primiparous, healthy mothers completed multiple daily self-reports of fatigue during postpartum Weeks 2 and 12 and were categorized at each week as having either a rhythmic or random fatigue pattern during the daytime. Wrist actigraphy data were used to calculate sleep midpoints. Surveys assessed chronotype, mood, anxiety, and stress. At postpartum Week 2, there were no differences in mental health measures between fatigue groups. At postpartum Week 12, higher overall fatigue levels were associated with increased anxiety, stress, and mood disruption. However, overall fatigue levels did not differ between fatigue groups. Women with a rhythmic fatigue pattern reported significantly less stress and more vigor than women with a random fatigue pattern. An earlier sleep midpoint was associated with a rhythmic fatigue pattern during postpartum Week 12. These data suggest that, despite similar average daily fatigue levels, having a rhythmic daily pattern of fatigue may be advantageous for mental health outcomes among postpartum women.

Timing and variability of postpartum sleep in relation to daytime performance

Postpartum women have highly disturbed sleep, also known as sleep fragmentation. Fragmentation extends their total sleep period, also disrupting sleep timing. A stable and earlier sleep period among non-postpartum populations is related to better performance, physical health, and mental health. However, sleep timing has not been examined among postpartum women who are also vulnerable to daytime impairment. The study objective was to examine how the timing and regularity of sleep during the early postpartum period are related to daytime functioning across postpartum weeks 2-13. In this field-based study, 71 primiparous women wore an actigraph, a small wrist-worn device that monitors sleep and sleep timing, for the 12-week study period. Mothers self-administered a 5-min psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) each morning to evaluate the number of >500ms response lapses. They also completed a Morningness-Eveningness scale at the beginning of the study to identify chronotype. After controlling for maternal age, earlier sleep timing was associated with significantly fewer PVT lapses at postpartum weeks 9,12; a more stable sleep midpoint was associated with significantly fewer PVT lapses at postpartum weeks 2,5-13. Earlier sleep midpoints were related to more stable sleep midpoints at postpartum week 2 and a morning-type chronotype. An earlier sleep midpoint was also associated with a reduced slope of worsening PVT lapses across weeks. Across the first 12 postpartum weeks, women with earlier or more stable sleep periods had less daytime impairment than women with later or more variable sleep midpoints. Postpartum women with earlier sleep midpoints also showed less severe decrements in performance across time, which has been attributed to cumulative impacts of sleep disturbance. These data suggest that the sleep period, in addition to sleep duration and fragmentation, should be more closely examined, particularly among vulnerable women, as it may affect the neurobehavioral performance of new mothers.