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(Ivanhoe Newswire) A history of depression and anxiety could come back to haunt new mothers.
According to British researchers, mothers who suffered from these disorders before they got pregnant were more likely to have babies who had trouble sleeping at night.
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The study was conducted among 874 women who completed a standard screening test aimed at uncovering depression and anxiety. About a third of the women were identified as experiencing significant psychological distress.
The researchers follow up with the women when their babies were 6 and 12 months old, asking them how often the child awoke between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m. At both follow ups, women who showed signs of psychological distress on the test they took prior to their pregnancies were more likely to have babies who woke up more at night, 52 percent versus 43 percent, respectively, at 6 months, and 46 percent versus 36 percent, respectively, at 12 months.
A good nights sleep is important for both mother and child, report the investigators, noting moms who dont get enough sleep are prone to further problems with depression and anxiety, and children who dont sleep well are at increased risk for behavior problems and learning difficulties.
SOURCE: SLEEP, published online April 1, 2009
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