Research has shown that there is a higher incidence of insomnia-related symptoms among pregnant women, particularly in the latter trimester. A group led by Keiko Murakami, MPH PhD, from The Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University, estimated the incidence of insomnia, and also examined the connection between the social isolation and insomnia in pregnant women.
Women face unique challenges keeping a healthy sleeping pattern during pregnancy because of hormonal, physical and psychological changes” the authors write. “It is well established that insomnia is closely linked with depressive symptoms in parents. This is due to increasing evidence that sleep disturbance during pregnancy is linked to negative outcomes, such as an increased chances of having a premature baby and gestational diabetes and small for gestational age, as well as cesarean section.”
Recent research data:
A meta-analysis conducted recently revealed that 38.2 percent of pregnant women suffered from insomnia during their pregnancy. The study was cross-sectional, researchers uncovered information taken from The Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three Generation Cohort Study between 2013 and 2017, and recruited pregnant women from around 50 obstetrical hospitals and clinics in Japan.
The total number of pregnant women were reached out, of which 22,493 consented to participate. However, 2094 women were not included because of stillbirth or miscarriage or unknown birth status, uncomplete questionnaires in the first and second trimesters or insufficient permission to translate medical records and 2813 due to social exclusion. They were also excluded because of the absence of data on the symptoms of insomnia, parity, or pregnancy.(BMI) as well as emotions about pregnancy, household income working status psychological distress, morning sickness or hypnotic drug use.
Data from the large cohort study:
The researchers analyzed 17,586 women who filled out questionnaires and also transcribed medical documents. The definition of insomnia was having an Athens Insomnia Scale score of at least 6, and employed an adapted version of the Laban Social Network Scale to evaluate social isolation as a score less than 12. . Researchers also looked into the connection between the social isolation of insomnia and pregnancy such as the age of parity, age at conception, weight, emotions towards pregnancy, education, the status of their work morning sickness, and emotional stress. The study was adjusted by multi-logistic regression.
The researchers also carried out multiple logistic regression analyses for family ties that were moderate and moderate friendship bonds. The results revealed that 37.3 percent of women suffered from insomnia during the second trimester. Likewise, those who are socially marginalized were more likely to be prone to insomnia than those who were socially separated. They were also more likely to be connected. The adjusted odds ratio for multivariate variables was 1.26 (95 percent 95% CI, 1.16-1.36). Family relationships that were not as strong and relationships were linked to an increase in risk developing insomnia. The ORs adjusted for multivariate variables were 1.40 (95 percent C.I, 1.25-1.56) and 1.15 (95 percent 95% CI, 1.07-1.24), respectively.