Delta and theta power spectra of night sleep EEG are higher in breast-feeding mothers than in non-pregnant women.
The power spectra of night sleep EEGs of 12 breast-feeding 9-13 week postpartum mothers were analyzed and compared with those of 12 non-pregnant women. The power spectra in the delta and theta frequency range during NREM sleep for breast-feeding mothers were significantly higher than those for non-pregnant women. In addition, the all-night sleep patterns of the mothers were classified into two groups - interrupted sleep due to taking care of their infants and non-interrupted sleep - in order to observe the influence of partial sleep deprivation. The power spectra in the delta and theta frequency range were not significantly different between them. This result suggests that increased delta and theta power spectra during postpartum sleep do not result from partial sleep deprivation. The role of prolactin in breast-feeding mothers' sleep is also discussed.
Nishihara
Kyoko
K
Department of Sleep Disorders Research, Tokyo Institute of Psychiatry, 2-1-8 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8585, Japan. knishi@prit.go.jp
Horiuchi
Shigeko
S
Eto
Hiromi
H
Uchida
Sunao
S
Honda
Makoto
M
D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003700:Delta Rhythm; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000379:methods; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000502:physiology; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000502:physiology*; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D013826:Theta Rhythm