The Role of Sleep Disruption During Pregnancy on Maternal Health and Effect on the Nervous System of Fetal Programming

الملخص

Maternal sleep is a crucial factor affecting the uterine environment. Sleep deprivation, whether in quality or quantity can impair the regulation of metabolic processes, neuroendocrine stress signals, inflammatory pathways essential for placental function, maternal vascular health, and cardiac adaptation. Sleep disturbances are common during pregnancy and often worsen as the pregnancy progresses influenced by physical and hormonal symptoms, as well as pregnancy related sleep disorders such as sleep apnea. This study combines human observational data and experimental findings on the impact of maternal sleep deprivation (including sleep fragmentation, insomnia, and its symptoms) on early fetal development, particularly during the highly sensitive organogenesis period. Scientific studies support the existence of a neural network through which maternal sleep deprivation leads to circadian rhythm disturbances, pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction, metabolic and oxidative stress, melatonin imbalances, and in cases of sleep-disordered breathing, intermittent hypoxia. The placenta acts as a key mediator integrating these signals and regulating nutrient and oxygen transport, immune modulation, uteroplacental blood flow, and endocrine functions. Numerous studies have shown that inadequate prenatal sleep is strongly linked to behavioral and developmental outcomes in children, with growing evidence connecting prenatal sleep patterns to changes in the structure and function of the nervous system. To ensure healthy physical and brain development, it is crucial to understand the evolving nature of sleep and its relationship to pregnancy and age, as sleep plays a vital role in preventing prenatal and postnatal disorders .