title: A mixed-method examination of maternal and paternal nocturnal caregiving.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study objectives were to describe and compare causes of, and activities during, postpartum parents' nocturnal awakenings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one primiparous postpartum couples were studied for 1 week with qualitative and quantitative methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mothers reported more awakenings per night (3.3 ± 1.1) and more wake time after going to sleep (116.0 ± 60.0 minutes) compared to fathers (2.4 ± 0.5 and 42.7 ± 39.4 minutes, respectively). "Actions taken" during maternal nocturnal awakenings were primarily for infant feeding (49.0%), general infant care (18.5%), and infant changing (12.0%). "Actions taken" during paternal nocturnal awakenings were primarily "passive awakenings" (35.9%), for self-care (18.4%), and for infant feeding (9.4%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Qualitative analyses revealed ways that new families can optimize the sleep of both parents while also providing optimal nocturnal infant care.
authors.forename: Salvatore P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Insana
authors.forename: Craig F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Garfield
authors.forename: Hawley E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Montgomery-Downs
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D010287:Parent-Child Relations
keywords: Maternal; child care; family; paternal; sleep