We have commented on several occasions to what extent it can affect our previous way of life and during pregnancy to the habits of our future baby.
Several studies pointed to the fact that prenatal stress can modify the baby's sleep pattern, but a new study published in the journal Sleep has come to light. links the baby's sleep problems with the mother's stress even before pregnancy.
They have been able to conclude that babies of women who suffered stress before pregnancy are more likely to wake up in the middle of the night and have a worse quality sleep during the first year of life.
A questionnaire was carried out to detect anxiety and depression problems in women between the ages of 20 and 34 and when they became mothers, they were asked again about the way their babies sleep. In 29% of the women, stress problems were detected, while 46% of the children of these mothers had woken up at least once during the night at six months and 39% per year.
In comparison, 52% of the children woke up in the middle of the night at 6 months, compared to 43% of the other children; and 46% compared to 36% at 12 months.
I don't intend to question the study, at all. Of course, the calmer the mother has been before, during and after pregnancy will create a more favorable environment for the baby's rest, but sometimes this type of research alarms us meaningless.
I consider it absolutely normal for a 6 month or 12 month old baby to wake up at night one and more times. Whether or not they come from stressed mothers before pregnancy, it is part of their nature. The unusual thing is that he doesn't wake up once.
For its part, to assess whether there really is a relationship between pre-pregnancy stress with babies' sleep, other parameters should be taken into account, such as what level of stress women had before becoming pregnant, if they have suffered especially distressing situations. and if babies are born once they have sleep patterns that can be considered abnormal. Surely it will continue investigating on the subject.
