“Sleep is not only important for children – it’s crucial for parents too,” says Marthinsen.
Norway: Long, sleepless nights are often seen as part of early parenthood. But how serious is the problem—and what does it mean for our health? Gunhild Nordbø Marthinsen explored this in her doctoral research at the University of Agder.
Sleep – An Overlooked Health Factor
Having worked with sick children and their families for years, Marthinsen noticed that parents’ sleep rarely received attention.
“The parents are not our patients, but that doesn’t mean their sleep needs aren’t important,” she says.
Research shows that sleep deprivation during the postnatal period can take a heavy toll—raising the risk of stress, exhaustion, depression, and reduced quality of life, particularly for new mothers.
Parents of Premature Babies at Higher Risk
Marthinsen’s study compared parents of premature babies with those of full-term babies. Results showed that parents of preterm infants had poorer sleep quality and more frequent insomnia—sometimes lasting up to a year after birth.
Insomnia is experienced differently from person to person. Some struggle to fall asleep, others wake up several times during the night and some experience poor sleep quality. The common denominator is not getting enough sleep over a long period of time.
“Many of the parents we tried to recruit were in crisis,” Marthinsen explains. “They had a child in the neonatal intensive care unit, often with serious health problems. Sleep was low on their list of priorities.”
Still, the study found that even parents of full-term babies often faced significant sleep difficulties.
Insomnia Is More Than Just Poor Sleep
Occasional bad nights are normal with a newborn, but when does it become a medical condition?
“Insomnia is more than just not sleeping well,” Marthinsen clarifies. “It’s about struggling to function during the day, with symptoms lasting at least three months.”
The research revealed that over half of mothers in both groups had insomnia two months after birth, while more than 40% of fathers reported the same.
Time to Prioritize Sleep in Postnatal Care
Marthinsen stresses that health professionals often lack the right tools to talk about sleep with parents.
“We systematically assess pain and depression. But with sleep, parents often just say: ‘I sleep poorly sometimes.’ That doesn’t tell us enough.”
She believes sleep should become a stronger focus in postnatal care—from helping parents understand what’s normal, to encouraging healthy sleep habits, to knowing when professional support is needed.
Source: News Medical