The Relationship Between Maternal Fatigue and Observed Unsafe Infant Sleep Practices

Abstract

To determine if a relationship exists between maternal fatigue and unsafe maternal–infant sleep practices or infant drops. Descriptive study design. Three randomly designated postpartum rooms in a 33-bed mother–baby unit that provides couplet nursing care. A convenience sample of 92 women in the postpartum period, 18 years and older, English speaking, and not receiving intravenous magnesium sulfate for hypertension. The time frame studied was time to admission to the mother–baby unit to discharge from the hospital. Women were assessed hourly for fatigue using the Stanford Sleepiness Scale. In addition, the hospital room environment was assessed hourly for evidence of unsafe sleep practices using an investigator developed environmental safety survey. Unsafe sleep practices that were identified were immediately rectified. During the project period, five infant drops occurred although no infant drops occurred among the 92 participants. Unsafe infant sleep practices were identified in 22% (n = 20) of the participants and immediately rectified. Common unsafe sleep practices included a hospital bed not in its lowest position, co-sleeping, and having less than two side rails in upright position. These mothers averaged 6.8 hours of observed sleep (0–13 hours) during the postpartum hospital stay (31–59 hours) with an average sleep interval of 2.94 hours (0–6 hours) Hourly observation of environment and subjective assessment of maternal fatigue may prevent infant drops.