Abstract
The quality of the intrauterine environment influences maternal-fetal health and also offspring predisposition to obesity and cardiometabolic disease later in life. Several determinants, including but not limited to pregravid obesity and excessive gestational weight gain, alter the developmental milieu, fetal growth, and child obesity risk. However, the role of sleep and its relationship to healthy pregnancy is not fully established. Given the host of psychosocial and physiological complications associated with childhood obesity, targeting the gestational period is purported to be an opportune time for preventive intervention. Many longitudinal studies suggest that short sleep duration is a risk factor for the development of impaired glycemia and obesity. However, there is a dearth of information concerning the role of sleep hygiene and its role in a healthy pregnancy. Reports note disrupted and poorer quality of sleep during gestation and highlight an association between reduced sleep and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus. Given the lack of well-designed human trials assessing the value of sleep and healthy pregnancy outcomes, this review summarizes current evidence which suggests that incorporating sleep recommendations and utilizing time management strategies that encourage a healthful night 's sleep may improve the health of the mom and the baby.
Highlights
It is widely accepted that the quality of the intrauterine environment has potential to influence prenatal health of the mother and developing child but may increase offspring predisposition to obesity and cardiometabolic pathology later in life [1]
Maternal insulin resistance naturally occurs during pregnancy to facilitate fetal substrate delivery, short sleep duration has been cited as an independent predictor of diabetes in women [20], which may exacerbate glucose intolerance and expose the developing fetus to excessive quantities of hormones, growth factors, and nutrients
Using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) which is a measure of daytime fatigue and surrogate marker of poor nocturnal sleep, Bourjeily et al [33] described a significant association between sleep and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in patients with a score >16 compared to those with an ESS of ≤16 which persisted after multiple adjustments
Summary
It is widely accepted that the quality of the intrauterine environment has potential to influence prenatal health of the mother and developing child but may increase offspring predisposition to obesity and cardiometabolic pathology later in life [1]. Recent meta-analyses evaluating the efficacy of prenatal lifestyle interventions (i.e., nutrition or physical activity) targeting GWG management during pregnancy have shown promise [10, 11], incorporating recommendations and strategies designed to improve sleep hygiene may be another tool in our armamentarium that health care providers can use to optimize maternal-fetal health. Using a mixedmethods approach Hall et al [12] noted that sleep was an outcome measure evaluated in a Canadian research study that mothers preferred to receive information about during pregnancy so they could benefit from reassurance that their experiences were shared among other pregnant women These women intended to share the results they received within their social networks improving knowledge translation of the research findings to nonstudy participants. The objective of this mininarrative review is to summarize the available evidence with respect to sleep behaviour and metabolic regulation of glycemic control, provide preliminary support for the value of adequate sleep for a healthy pregnancy, and highlight patient monitoring tools that may be useful to the care provider in clinical practice
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
