Sleep and Quality of Life in Pregnancy and Postpartum

Abstract

Sleep fragmentation and disruption during the normal physiological changes of pregnancy are as significant as some medical diseases. Sleep disorders during pregnancy are an even further complication. These changes, which persist not only over the course of the pregnancy, but also into the postpartum period, are significant enough to affect quality of life. Measures specific to the quality of life associated with sleep disorders are limited in pregnancy. Sleep disruption affects quality of life in a significant way. Those with insomnia suffer significant distress during that period, and those with poor sleep suffer the daytime consequences such as excessive daytime sleepiness. The literature regarding sleep and quality of life during pregnancy is limited. This review outlines the sleep characteristics typical of a normal pregnancy, including physical and emotional changes, and then the quality of life implications. We present some preliminary data that have been collected on quality of life in a study of normal pregnancy, and how sleep disruption may have an impact. Then, we explore sleep disorders such as restless legs syndrome and sleep-disordered breathing in pregnancy and assess how they may impact quality of life. Finally, we discuss sleep changes in the postpartum period, and how they may impact quality of life. The implications for perinatal depression may be particularly important. It becomes clear that for such a significant change in life, physically and emotionally, further studies exploring the impact of sleep on quality of life in pregnancy are required. The potential treatment of sleep disorders in pregnancy could lead to significant quality of life improvements during this time.