Infant sleep patterns and maternal postpartum fatigue: A cross-sectional study

Aim: Unpredictable nature of infant sleep-wake cycles go against that of the adult sleep. Maternal sleep quality is acknowledged as a main factor to postpartum fatigue. This study explored the effects of infant sleep patterns on maternal postpartum fatigue.

Methods: A total of 319 mothers of infants from two teaching hospitals in the Nantong City were enrolled. Maternal fatigue status and infant sleep patterns were assessed by the Fatigue Scale (FS-14) and the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire (BISQ). Generalized estimating equation analyses were perform to explored the effect of infant sleep patterns on maternal fatigue.

Results: Sleep-onset time later than 10 p.m., and nocturnal wakefulness more than 60 min were risk factors of postpartum fatigue. After controlling the confounding variables, infant sleep patterns were still the determinant factors of postpartum fatigue.

Conclusion: Infant sleep pattern is a factor of maternal postpartum fatigue. It is recommended to promote infant sleep so as to improve maternal sleep quality and finally alleviate postpartum fatigue.