Depressed Mums Cause Sleep Problems For Kiddos!

Baby

oi-Staff

By Staff

Wednesday, May 20, 2009, 15:21

The sleep problems in infants are a much-discussed issue on these days. If you are concerned about your infant's sleeping patterns, keep a check on your mood swings too. It seems depressed mums are a major cause for the sleep problems in infants.

Infants born to depressed mothers are more likely to suffer from sleep disturbances at 2 weeks postpartum until 6 months of age. These infants have significant sleep disturbances compared to low-risk infants. They have hour longer nocturnal sleep latency, shorter sleep episodes and lower sleep efficiency.

Although average sleep time in 24 hours did not differ by risk group at eight two or four weeks, nocturnal total sleep time was 97 minutes longer in the low-risk group at both recording periods. Those in the high-risk group also had significantly more daytime sleep episodes of a shorter average duration. However, whether it is maternal hormones that "cause" the sleep problems in infants is not yet known.

The levels of cortisol, a hormone that is associated with stress, is increased during pregnancy and after delivery in depressed mothers, indicating that the mother's hormone level may affect the infant's sleep. However while maternal depression does have a negative effect on infants' sleep, the damage might be reversible. One can seek a behavioural and environmental intervention to improve entrainment of sleep and circadian rhythms in the high-risk infants

The cause for sleep problems in infants could be genetic, hormonal, or both. Regardless of the cause, they may still be modifiable since brain regulation is very plastic and responsive in childhood. Sleep disturbances in infancy may result in increased risk for developing early-onset depression in childhood.

Dr Roseanne Armitage, director of the Sleep and Chronophysiology Laboratory at the University Of Michigan Depression Centre conducted this study.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.