A study by the Soroka Medical Center and the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev found that women who suffered from sleep disorders during pregnancy were more likely to give birth to a smaller baby compared to other women who give birth at that point in the pregnancy.
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The study followed the sleep pattern of 516 pregnant women. It also analyzed data on nighttime light using satellite imagery provided by the BGU's Department of Geography.
Altogether, 41.1% of participants (212 women) reported having sleep disorders while pregnant. Of those, 37% (83 women) experienced such a disorder in the first trimester and 60.8% (129 women) in the third.
The study further said that women who suffered from sleep disorders in both trimesters were 1.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with anemia during pregnancy (35.1% compared to 25% among participants who reported no problems with sleep).
The study, which was presented this week at a leading US conference on maternal and fetal medicine, also found that 4.2% of women reported suffering from sleep disorders gave birth to a smaller baby in relation to gestational age, compared to the 1% of women who reported no such problems.
Researchers found no significant link between using night lights during pregnancy and sleep disorders, as reported by the women. No link was found between sleep disorders and other characteristics such as gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, or preterm birth either.
"The results suggest that insufficient quality or quantity of sleep may challenge fetal development and maternal health," the research said. "Early diagnosis and adapting to good sleep habits during pregnancy may reduce the risk of pregnancy complications."
The study was led by Professor Eyal Shiner of Soroka Medical Center, and the BGU's Yonatan Finkelstein and Tamar Wainstock.
"The study improves the understanding of the link between sleep during pregnancy and obstetric complications," Shiner said.
As far as we know, it is the first such study of its kind, Wainstock added.
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