Evaluation of a Sleep Enhancement Program for Prenatal and Postpartum Women

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Women often sleep poorly during pregnancy and almost always sleep poorly after delivery. This sleep disturbance differs significantly from traditional insomnia even that associated with a medical condition. However, pregnant women and new mothers are very reluctant to use pharmacological sleep aids as they may have an adverse effect on their unborn child or their own ability to respond to their newborn's needs. A technologically based Sleep Enhancement Training system created to help Air Force pilots overcome disturbed sleep and fatigue due to jetlag is being modified for and will be tested with pregnant women to determine if it can improve their sleep during these periods in a randomized controlled study. A preliminary feasibility study comparing objective (actigraphy) and subjective measures of sleep in twenty nine pregnant women, when compared to a similar previously measured untreated sample, showed an increase of 55 minutes in postpartum sleep along with other objective and subjective improvements. Recent research indicates that women who experience poor sleep or sleep less than 6 hours per night in the few weeks before delivery are at higher risk for birth complications (Lee and Gay. 2004) and research also suggested that poor sleep pre delivery was associated with negative psychological consequences after delivery (Wilkes and Shapiro, 1992). Poor postpartum sleep is legendary and has been associated with fatigue, difficulties caring for the newborn and even postpartum depression (Ross, Murray, and Steiner, 2005). Each year four million women give birth in the U.S. The ability to improve sleep without pharmacological agents during this time can potentially improve birth outcomes and have a significant positive impact on quality of life for a crucial part of the U.S population during a very trying time. It is anticipated that the successful evaluation of this approach will lead to commercialization of an effective. easy-to-use, low cost, non-pharmacologic sleep improvement program for expectant parents. Successful commercialization of such a product through birth education classes and OB/GYN physicians can have a significant impact on the health and quality of life for new parents and their children. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Pregnant women have difficulty sleeping before delivery and after the child is born. A special audio/video and written material Sleep Enhancement program is being tested that could train mothers to sleep better during this difficult time and therefore enable them to take better care of their infant.