Does sleep influence weight gain during pregnancy? A prospective study

Association between Eating-Fasting and Sleep-Wake Cycles with Eating Times and Food Consumption throughout the Day: Longitudinal Study with Pregnant Women

Objective  To investigate the associations of the sleep-eating interval with eating times and food consumption throughout the day in pregnant women. Materials and Methods  A longitudinal study with 100 pregnant women treated at the public health network in the city of Uberlândia, state of Minas Gerais (MG), Brazil, during the entire gestational period. The time intervals between waking up and the first eating episode and between the last eating episode and going to sleep (independent variables) were investigated. Outcome measures were meal and sleep times, as well as food consumption throughout the day. Results  Food consumption closer to sleep at night is associated with higher total daily caloric intake in the first (β = -0.337, p  = 0.016) and second trimesters (Ts) of pregnancy (β = -0.240, p  = 0.023), and with longer sleep duration on weekdays ( p  < 0.05 for all three trimesters). We did not find associations between the wake-up to first eating episode interval and total calories ( p  > 0.05 for all three trimesters), but the longer this interval, the greater the percentage of calories at dinner (1T: β = 0.266, p  = 0.003; 2T: β = 0.269, p  = 0.045) and at the last meal (1T: β = 0.324, p  = 0.001; 2T: β = 0.231, p  = 0.033). Discussion  Taking longer to eat the first meal after waking up is associated with higher caloric intake later in the day, while taking longer to sleep after eating the last meal is associated with higher total daily caloric intake and shorter sleep duration, especially in the beginning and middle of pregnancy.

The association between sleep trajectories throughout pregnancy and postpartum pain in individuals with overweight or obesity: a prospective cohort study

Background

Pain after childbirth affects maternal and infant outcomes. Although sleep influences pain in general adult populations, research on this during the perinatal period is limited. This study examines the association between sleep quality and duration changes from mid to late pregnancy and pain during postpartum hospitalization.

Methods

This secondary data analysis included 118 pregnant individuals (12-20 weeks gestation at enrollment) with a pre-pregnancy BMI ≥ 25 kg/m². The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index estimated sleep quality and duration at six prenatal visits. Group-based trajectory models identified distinct sleep patterns. Pain was assessed every 8 hours during the three-day postpartum hospitalization using a 0-10 numeric rating scale and was then calculated as the pain Area Under the Curve (AUC). Multivariable-adjusted linear regression analyzed the relationship between sleep trajectories and postpartum pain.

Results

Two trajectories for sleep quality and two for sleep duration were identified. The "Consistently poor" group showed increasing PSQI scores from 9 to 11, while the "Late worsening" group's scores increased from 4 to 6. The "Late decreasing" duration group consistently slept 6-7 hours, while the "Consistently short" group maintained 5-6 hours nightly. No significant associations were found between sleep quality (expβ = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.51 to 1.17, p = 0.22) or duration (expβ = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.46 to 1.21, p = 0.24) and postpartum pain.

Conclusions

Sleep quality and duration changes during pregnancy were not associated with postpartum pain in this cohort. Future research should explore sleep's impact on pain later in the postpartum period when chronic pain may develop.

Association between sleep quality and weight gain in pregnancy: a cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

There are grounds for the hypothesis that poor sleep quality, regardless of the pre-gestational nutritional status, is a risk factor for inadequate gestational weight gain.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between sleep quality and insufficient or excessive gestational weight gain in Brazilian pregnant women without gestational complications and monitored in public prenatal care units.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study nested within a cohort study that reviewed pregnant women's mental health, sleep, and nutritional outcome. Data collection was carried out from May 2018 to June 2019 through face-to-face and telephone interviews and consultation of pregnant women's medical records. Sleep quality was assessed using the Mini-sleep Questionnaire. The pregnancy weight gain was measured based on the Institute of Medicine's recommendations. Univariate and multivariate Poisson regression analysis was used for the two outcomes: insufficient or excessive weight gain, using pregnant women with adequate weight gain as the reference category. Associations were considered significant when p < 0.05.

RESULTS

The prevalence of severe sleep disorders was high: 63.4% of pregnant women experienced this condition. Severe sleep disorders enhanced independently the risk of insufficient gestational weight gain (PR = 2.40; 95% CI = 1.06-5.42, p = 0.035). There was no association between sleep disorders and excessive gestational weight gain.

CONCLUSION

The hypothesis that poor sleep quality influences gestational weight gain was confirmed. Severe sleep disorders, a highly prevalent condition, significantly increased the prevalence of insufficient gestational weight gain, yet it was not associated with excessive weight gain. Thus, educational actions should be included in the preconception and prenatal periods, in order to encourage the adoption of habits that favor sleep quality, an intervention that may have positive effects in reducing insufficient gestational weight gain.

Assessment of Sleep Quality in Spanish Twin Pregnancy: An Observational Single-Center Study

Women with twin pregnancies experience greater sleep disturbance compared to women with singleton pregnancies. The aims of this study were to explore the sleep quality in women with twin pregnancies and to compare their sleep dimensions with coetaneous single pregnancies. This was an observational study in which women were enrolled at the end of pregnancy in the Obstetric Service of Hospital La Paz (Spain). The women were classified as single (n = 143) or twin pregnancy (n = 62). Pregnant women responded to the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to evaluate sleep quality, latency, duration, efficiency, perturbance, use of medication, and daytime dysfunction. The higher the index, the greater the alteration of sleep quality. Without statistical differences, a poor sleep quality was higher in women with single (66.7%) than women with twin pregnancies (22.8%). The good sleeper slept 6.8 h/day in single pregnancy and 7.3 h/day in twin pregnancy. The sleep perturbation and dysfunctionality were higher in women with twin than single pregnancies. The use of medication to sleep was significantly lower in women with twin than single pregnancies. In women with twin pregnancy, the body weight gain during first trimester had a positive correlation with worse sleep quality and sleep perturbations. Twin pregnancy needed more than 7 h/day to have a high sleep quality, showing greater sleep perturbations and daytime dysfunction than single pregnancies. The control of gestational body weight can improve the sleep quality, disturbances, and duration in twin gestations. Sleep screening during pregnancy would be necessary to handle sleep issues and increase benefits in twin gestational outcomes.

Dietitian-led cluster randomised controlled trial on the effectiveness of mHealth education on health outcomes among pregnant women: a protocol paper

INTRODUCTION

Nutrition education is the cornerstone to maintain optimal pregnancy outcomes including gestational weight gain (GWG). Nevertheless, default for appointments is common and often lead to suboptimal achievement of GWG, accompanied with unfavourable maternal and child health outcomes. While mobile health (mHealth) usage is increasing and helps minimising barriers to clinic appointments among pregnant mothers, its effectiveness on health outcomes has been inconclusive. Therefore, this study aimed to address the gap between current knowledge and clinical care, by exploring the effectiveness of mHealth on GWG as the primary outcome, hoping to serve as a fundamental work to achieve optimal health outcomes with the improvement of secondary outcomes such as physical activity, psychosocial well-being, dietary intake, quality of life and sleep quality among pregnant mothers.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

A total of 294 eligible participants will be recruited and allocated into 3 groups comprising of mHealth intervention alone, mHealth intervention integrated with personal medical nutrition therapy and a control group. Pretested structured questionnaires are used to obtain the respondents' personal information, anthropometry data, prenatal knowledge, physical activity, psychosocial well-being, dietary intake, quality of life, sleep quality and GWG. There will be at least three time points of data collection, with all participants recruited during their first or second trimester will be followed up prospectively (after 3 months or/and after 6 months) until delivery. Generalised linear mixed models will be used to compare the mean changes of outcome measures over the entire study period between the three groups.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approvals were obtained from the ethics committee of human subjects research of Universiti Putra Malaysia (JKEUPM-2022-072) and medical research & ethics committee, Ministry of Health Malaysia: NMRR ID-22-00622-EPU(IIR). The results will be disseminated through journals and conferences targeting stakeholders involved in nutrition research.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

Clinicaltrial.gov ID: NCT05377151.

Poor Sleep Quality Increases Gestational Weight Gain Rate in Pregnant People: Findings from the MADRES Study

Background

Poor sleep quality is associated with weight gain in non-pregnant populations, but evidence in pregnant people is lacking. Our study examined the association between early-to-mid pregnancy sleep quality and weekly gestational weight gain (GWG) rate during mid-to-late pregnancy by pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI).

Method

Participants were 316 pregnant participants from the Maternal and Developmental Risks from Environmental and Social Stressors (MADRES) study. During early-to-mid pregnancy, participants reported their sleep quality which was used to construct four categories: very poor, poor, good, and very good. Linear growth curve models examined the association between early-to-mid pregnancy sleep quality and weekly rate of GWG (kg/week) during mid-to-late pregnancy (> 20 weeks gestation), with a three-way cross-level interaction between gestational age, sleep quality, and pre-pregnancy BMI category. Models adjusted for ethnicity by birthplace, hypertensive disorders, perceived stress score, and physical activity level.

Results

Overall, poorer early-to-mid pregnancy sleep quality was associated with increased weekly weight gain during mid-to-late pregnancy. For example, amongst normal weight participants, mid-to-late pregnancy weight gain was, on average, 0.39 kg (95% CI: 0.29, 0.48) per week for those with very good sleep quality, 0.53 kg (95% CI: 0.44, 0.61) per week for those with poor sleep quality, and 0.54 kg (95% CI: 0.46, 0.62) per week for those with very poor sleep quality during early-to-mid pregnancy. This difference in GWG rate was statistically significantly comparing very good to poor sleep (0.14 kg/week, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.26) and very good to very poor sleep (0.15kg/week, 85% CI: 0.02, 0.27). This association between sleep quality and GWG rate did not statistically differ by pre-pregnancy BMI.

Conclusion

Our study found very poor early-to-mid pregnancy sleep quality was associated with higher mid-to-late pregnancy GWG rate. Incorporating pregnancy-specific sleep recommendations into routine obstetric care may be a critical next step in promoting healthy GWG.

The association between multidimensional sleep health and gestational weight gain

BACKGROUND

Although poor sleep health is associated with weight gain and obesity in the non-pregnant population, research on the impact of sleep health on weight change among pregnant people using a multidimensional sleep health framework is needed.

OBJECTIVES

This secondary data analysis of the Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcome Study: Monitoring Mothers-to-be Sleep Duration and Continuity Study (n = 745) examined associations between mid-pregnancy sleep health indicators, multidimensional sleep health and gestational weight gain (GWG).

METHODS

Sleep domains (i.e. regularity, nap duration, timing, efficiency and duration) were assessed via actigraphy between 16 and 21 weeks of gestation. We defined 'healthy' sleep in each domain with empirical thresholds. Multidimensional sleep health was based on sleep profiles derived from latent class analysis and composite score defined as the sum of healthy sleep domains. Total GWG, the difference between self-reported pre-pregnancy weight and the last measured weight before delivery, was converted to z-scores using gestational age- and BMI-specific charts. GWG was defined as low (<-1 SD), moderate (-1 or +1 SD) and high (>+1 SD).

RESULTS

Nearly 50% of the participants had a healthy sleep profile (i.e. healthy sleep in most domains), whereas others had a sleep profile defined as having varying degrees of unhealthy sleep in each domain. The individual sleep domains were associated with a 20%-30% lower risk of low or high GWG. Each additional healthy sleep indicator was associated with a 10% lower risk of low (vs. moderate), but not high, GWG. Participants with late timing, long duration and low efficiency (vs. healthy) profiles had the strongest risk of low GWG (relative risk 1.5, 95% confidence interval 0.9, 2.4). Probabilistic bias analysis suggested that most associations between individual sleep health indicators, sleep health profiles and GWG were biased towards the null.

CONCLUSIONS

Future research should determine whether sleep health is an intervention target for healthy GWG.

Sleep characteristics modify the associations of physical activity during pregnancy and gestational weight gain

OBJECTIVE

Excessive gestational weight gain (eGWG) is associated with adverse long-term maternal outcomes. Most lifestyle interventions that incorporate physical activity have been ineffective at reducing eGWG. The purpose of this study was to determine if sleep modified the relationships between physical activity change from the 2nd to 3rd trimester and the odds of excessive gestational weight gain (eGWG).

METHODS

This was a secondary data analysis of a prospective cohort study of pregnant birthing people with overweight or obesity (n = 105). We estimated physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE) in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy and sleep characteristics (i.e., sleep quality, daytime dysfunction, sleep efficiency, sleep duration) in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy with validated measures. We used regression models with sleep and PAEE change (increase/stable vs. decrease) interaction terms to examine the impact of sleep on PAEE change and eGWG.

RESULTS

Mean GWG was 37.02 ± 16.76 lbs. and 80% of participants experienced eGWG. Eighteen percent of participants increased their PAEE from the 2nd to the 3rd trimester. Increasing (vs. decreasing) PAEE was associated with lower log-odds of eGWG only among participants that slept at least 8 h/night (p = 0.06), had at least 85% sleep efficiency (p = 0.03), or reported less daytime dysfunction (p = 0.08). Sleep quality did not moderate the association between PAEE change and eGWG.

CONCLUSIONS

Weight management interventions in pregnancy should consider screening for and addressing poor sleep in the second trimester.

The association between multidimensional sleep health and gestational weight gain: nuMoM2b Sleep Duration and Continuity Study

Background

Although poor sleep health is associated with weight gain and obesity in the non-pregnant population, research on the impact of sleep health on weight change among pregnant people using a multidimensional sleep-health framework is needed. This study examined associations among mid-pregnancy sleep health indicators, multidimensional sleep health, and gestational weight gain (GWG).

Methods

We conducted a secondary data analysis of the Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcome Study: Monitoring Mothers-to-be Sleep Duration and Continuity Study (n=745). Indicators of individual sleep domains (i.e., regularity, nap duration, timing, efficiency, and duration) were assessed via actigraphy between 16 and 21 weeks of gestation. We defined "healthy" sleep in each domain based on empirical thresholds. Multidimensional sleep health was based on sleep profiles derived from latent class analysis. Total GWG, the difference between self-reported pre-pregnancy weight and the last measured weight before delivery, was converted to z-scores using gestational age- and BMI-specific charts. GWG was defined as low (<-1 SD), moderate (-1 or +1 SD), and high (>+1 SD).

Results

Nearly 50% of the participants had a healthy sleep profile (i.e., healthy sleep in most domains), whereas others had a sleep profile defined as having varying degrees of poor health in each domain. While indicators of individual sleep domains were not associated with GWG, multidimensional sleep health was related to low and high GWG. Participants with a sleep profile characterized as having low efficiency, late timing, and long sleep duration (vs. healthy sleep profile) had a higher risk (RR 1.7; 95% CI 1.0, 3.1) of low GWG a lower risk of high GWG (RR 0.5 95% CI 0.2, 1.1) (vs. moderate GWG).

Conclusions

Multidimensional sleep health was more strongly associated with GWG than individual sleep domains. Future research should determine whether sleep health is a valuable intervention target for optimizing GWG.

Synopsis

Study question: What is the association between mid-pregnancy multidimensional sleep health and gestational weight gain?What's already known?: Sleep is associated with weight and weight gain outside of pregnancyWhat does this study add?: We identified patterns of sleep behaviors associated with an increased risk of low gestational weight gain.

The Influence of Exercise, Lifestyle Behavior Components, and Physical Fitness on Maternal Weight Gain, Postpartum Weight Retention, and Excessive Gestational Weight Gain

This study examines (a) the influence of exercise, lifestyle behavior components (sedentary time, physical activity, and sleep and dietary patterns), and physical fitness on maternal weight gain, postpartum weight retention, and excessive gestational weight gain and (b) whether exercise protects against the adverse effects of impaired metabolism and nonoptimal body composition related to excessive gestational weight gain. Subjects were assigned to either a supervised concurrent (aerobic + resistance) exercise program followed 3 days/week (n = 47) or a control group (n = 54). Sedentary time, physical activity, sleep and dietary patterns (assessed by accelerometry and questionnaires), muscle strength (handgrip test), and cardiorespiratory fitness (Bruce test) were determined at gestational Weeks 16 and 33 (early-middle and late pregnancy, respectively), and at 6 weeks postpartum. Weight gain and weight retention were calculated using recorded weights at prepregnancy, early-middle, and late pregnancy, and at 6 weeks postpartum. Birth complications, maternal postpartum body composition, cardiometabolic, and inflammatory markers in maternal and umbilical cord arterial and venous blood, and in colostrum, and mature milk were also recorded. The exercise intervention reduced late weight gain (B = -2.7, SE = 0.83, p = .003) and weight retention (B = -2.85, SE = 1.3, p = .03), independent of any lifestyle behavior component or physical fitness, but did not prevent excessive weight gain. Increasing cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, and sleep duration were associated with a smaller mean weight gain and lower excessive weight gain values (p < .05). Among the participants who experienced excessive weight gain, those who were exercisers had a lower body mass index and systemic tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentration, lower umbilical cord venous tumor necrosis factor-alpha and arterial interferon gamma levels, higher cord arterial interleukin-10 levels, and improved placental function compared with controls (p < .05). In summary, exercise may help optimize gestational weight gain and weight retention, and may attenuate the impaired phenotype related to excessive weight gain. Increasing cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, and sleep duration might help to prevent excessive weight gain during pregnancy.

Changes in Sleep Patterns during Pregnancy and Predictive Factors: A Longitudinal Study in Saudi Women

This study aimed to assess sleep patterns during the three trimesters of pregnancy and whether vitamin D concentrations, along with other risk factors, are associated with these alterations. In a longitudinal study, 140 pregnant women (age 18 to 39 years) were followed throughout their first, second, and third trimesters. Sleep was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) at each trimester, along with an assessment of biochemical parameters, including serum vitamin D levels. The information that was collected included anthropometric data, socio-economic status, dietary intake, and physical activity. The PSQI was higher in mid and late pregnancy than in early pregnancy (both p = 0.001), and the sleep duration was also higher in late versus early pregnancy. Linear regression analyses revealed independent predictors of deteriorating sleep quality from early to late pregnancy, including low income (B ± SE −0.60 ± 0.26, p = 0.03) and low serum vitamin D levels in the second trimester (B ± SE −0.20 ± 0.01, p = 0.04). Energy intake and sitting in the second half of pregnancy were positively associated with changes in the PSQI score from the second to third trimesters (B ± SE 0.15 ± 0.07, p = 0.048) and (B ± SE 0.01 ± 0.00, p = 0.044), respectively. Low socio-economic status, low serum vitamin D levels, greater energy intake, and sitting time were associated with worsening patterns of sleep quality from early to late pregnancy.

Sleep quality and health among pregnant smokers

STUDY OBJECTIVES

We aimed to examine 1) sleep quality trends of pregnant smokers and 2) their associations with health outcomes.

METHODS

A secondary analysis of 88 participants from the University at Buffalo Pregnancy and Smoking Cessation Study (non-randomized clinical study) was performed. Sleep quality was measured with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) (higher scores, worse quality) and sleep duration was self-reported repeatedly during pregnancy at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and end-of-pregnancy visits. Participants were divided into 3 groups (until pre-intervention, until post-intervention, until end-of-pregnancy). Maternal outcomes included gestational weight gain (GWG) and smoking cessation. Infant outcomes included birth weight, gestational age, and APGAR score.

RESULTS

There was a significant increase (P= 0.046) in PSQI score from post-intervention (mean, 5.5 [SD, 2.6]) to end-of-pregnancy (6.6 [SD, 2.8]). Mean GWG was significantly lower for participants with poor sleep quality than those with good sleep quality (19.0 kg [SD, 21.3] vs. 36.1 kg [SD, 22.8]; P=0.008). Newborns with poor maternal sleep quality had a significantly lower mean 5-minute APGAR score (8.1 [SD, 1.3] vs. 9.0 [SD, 0.0]; P=0.021) than newborns with good maternal sleep quality. Pre-intervention sleep quality was not associated with smoking cessation, birth weight, or gestational age. Smoking cessation was almost half as prevalent in participants with insufficient sleep (<7 hours/night) vs. sufficient sleep duration (47.4% vs. 92.3%, P=0.011).

CONCLUSIONS

Sleep quality worsened towards the end-of-pregnancy among smokers. Poor sleep might negatively influence GWG and APGAR score. Insufficient pre-intervention sleep might negatively influence smoking cessation.

Maternal sleep duration and neonatal birth weight: the Japan Environment and Children's Study

BACKGROUND

The adequate maternal sleep duration required for favorable obstetric outcomes is unknown. We evaluated the association between maternal sleep duration and low birth weight infants, small for gestational age infants, and macrosomia.

METHODS

Participants enrolled in the Japan Environment and Children's Study, a nationwide birth cohort study, with singleton pregnancies after 22 weeks, who gave birth between 2011 and 2014 were enrolled and categorized into five groups according to maternal sleep duration during pregnancy: < 6.0 h, 6.0-7.9 h, 8.0-8.9 h, 9.0-9.9 h, and 10.0-12.0 h. We evaluated the association between maternal sleep duration and the incidence of low birth weight infants (< 2500 g), very low birth weight infants (< 1500 g), small for gestational age infants, and macrosomia (> 4000 g), with women with maternal sleep duration of 6.0-7.9 h as the reference, using a multiple logistic regression model.

RESULTS

In total, 82,171 participants were analyzed. The adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for low birth weight infants in women with maternal sleep duration of 9.0-9.9 h and 10.0-12.0 h and for small for gestational age infants in women with maternal sleep duration of 9.0-9.9 h were 0.90 (0.83-0.99), 0.86 (0.76-0.99), and 0.91 (0.82-0.99), respectively, before adjusting for excessive gestational weight gain. No significant association was observed between maternal sleep duration and these outcomes after adjusting for excessive gestational weight gain. Among women with appropriate gestational weight gain, the adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for low birth weight infants and for small for gestational age infants with sleep duration of 9.0-9.9 h were 0.88 (0.80-0.97) and 0.87 (0.78-0.97), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal sleep duration of 9.0-9.9 h was significantly associated with the decreased incidence of low birth weight infants and small for gestational age infants in pregnant women with appropriate gestational weight gain, compared with that of 6.0-7.9 h. Care providers should provide proper counseling regarding the association between maternal sleep duration and neonatal birth weight and suggest comprehensive maternal lifestyle modifications to prevent low birth weight and small for gestational age infants.