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Sleep pattern gender differences and fragmentation in postpartum parents of twins

Elizabeth G Damato1,2,3, Christopher J Burant1,4, Jennifer A Brubaker5

  • 1Case Western Reserve University, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing - Cleveland - Ohio -United States.

Sleep Science (Sao Paulo, Brazil)
|January 27, 2022
PubMed

Insights

New parents of twins experience significant sleep disruption, with fragmented sleep averaging three hours or less per consolidated period. Both mothers and fathers face similar levels of sleep loss in the first three months postpartum.

Area of Science:

  • Perinatology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Parenting Studies

Background:

  • Parents of newborn twins face heightened risks of reduced sleep duration and fragmented sleep.
  • Infant care, especially with multiples, presents unique challenges to parental sleep patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize weekday vs. weekend sleep duration and continuity in mothers and fathers of newborn twins.
  • To examine sleep fragmentation and awakenings during the first three months postpartum.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized actigraphy and self-report diaries in 75 families with newborn twins.
  • Collected sleep-wake data over a 72-hour period (Saturday 9 p.m. to Tuesday 9 p.m.) at two time points within the first three months postpartum.

Main Results:

  • Mean sleep duration ranged from 6.7 to 7.5 hours, with no significant weekday/weekend differences for mothers.
  • Fathers experienced more fragmented weekend sleep with increased awakenings at one and three months postpartum.
  • Mothers had more fragmented night sleep than fathers at one month; at three months, fathers had shorter total sleep but fewer night awakenings on weekdays.

Conclusions:

  • Consolidated sleep periods for both parents averaged three hours or less in the first three months postpartum.
  • Parental sleep is fragmented, with mothers and fathers experiencing similar overall sleep disruption in twin-infant families.
Abstract

Keywords:
Maternal and Child HealthMultiple Birth OffspringPaternal BehaviorSleep Deprivation

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