Emotions of mom-to-be affect offspring’s sleep

DOES your child have sleeping problems? If yes, your emotions during pregnancy might be to blame.

A new study shows that a mother’s pre-natal or postnatal depression may lead to problems in the sleeping behaviour of her offspring.

Increased levels of happiness in the second and third trimester were significantly associated with decreased risk for children’s sleep problems.

“These results emphasise maternal health and happiness during pregnancy and encourage familial and community support in aiding expecting mothers,” said lead author Jianghong Liu from the University of Pennsylvania in the US. The study, presented during the SLEEP 2018 meeting in Baltimore, included data from 833 kindergarteners with a mean age of about 6 years old.

The team also rated the mothers’ emotional status, including pre-natal/postnatal depressive emotion and perceived happiness throughout trimesters.

Mothers who reported prenatal or post-natal depressive emotion were more likely to have children who exhibit sleep disturbances. “Happiness during the second and third trimester protected against child sleep problems. Emotion during pregnancy affects child behaviour which further affects a child’s sleep, Liu explained. – IANS