How do maternal emotion and sleep conditions affect infant sleep: a prospective cohort study

Area of Science:

• Reproductive biology
• Sleep medicine
• Developmental psychology

Background:

• Infant sleep disorders are increasingly recognized.
• Maternal emotional and sleep states are potential contributing factors.
• The precise mechanisms linking maternal conditions to infant sleep remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between maternal sleep and emotional conditions and infant sleep disorders.
• To explore the role of placental gene methylation and receptor expression in this relationship.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort study of 513 parent-infant pairs.
• Maternal emotional and sleep assessed via validated scales during pregnancy and postpartum.
• Infant sleep problems evaluated using a standardized questionnaire.
• Placental expression and methylation of key genes (GR, MR, EPAC, DR) analyzed.

Main Results:

• Infant sleep disorders occurred in 40.5% of the cohort.
• Maternal sleep disorders from the third trimester to postpartum were significant risk factors.
• Placental MTNR1B methylation was higher and MR expression lower in mothers with sleep disorders.
• Placental NR3C2 methylation was lower and GR expression higher in mothers with persistent sleep disorders.

Conclusions:

• Maternal sleep disorders in late pregnancy can alter placental gene methylation (MTNR1B) and melatonin receptor (MR) expression.
• This may lead to increased cortisol and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression via NR3C2 methylation changes.
• These placental changes are associated with maternal postpartum sleep disorders, ultimately increasing infant sleep disorder incidence.