Feasibility of app-delivered circadian synchronization therapy with light in a cohort of pregnant women

PROJECT SUMMARY Circadian rhythms play a vital role in promoting maternal health and managing pregnancy outcomes, including gestational diabetes, preterm birth, and postpartum depression. However, interventions to mitigate circadian rhythms disruption during pregnancy are lacking, despite readily available non-pharmacological circadian interventions. The circadian timekeeping system is strengthened and aligned to the 24-hour day by light, and environmental light manipulations can shift the phase and alter the amplitude of circadian rhythms when based on careful timing and combined with other behaviors. This Phase I STTR project aims to evaluate the feasibility of circadian synchronization therapy with light (CST-L) in a socioeconomically diverse population of pregnant women. The intervention involves bright light exposure at specific times to phase advance, delay, or boost the amplitude of the circadian clock, dim light at other times, as well as the use of a diary to track the causes of circadian disruption. To evaluate the success of the trial, we will collect subjective feedback from 20 pregnant women using the app and blue-blocking glasses for four weeks, and will make iterative updates to the app in response to user feedback. The ultimate goal is to develop a mobile application for both iOS and Android that delivers CST-L and helps improve maternal mood and health, as well as infant sleep training. If successful, this intervention could help reduce the risk of preterm birth, postpartum depression, and other poor outcomes during and after pregnancy.