Objective sleep of older primiparous J apanese women during the first 4 months postpartum: An actigraphic study

This longitudinal study was designed to examine objective sleep parameters of older primiparous J apanese women during the first 4 months postpartum using actigraphy. The participants were 18 older primiparae (Mean ( SD ) = 37.06 (2.62) years, range 35–44 years) who gave birth to healthy neonates at one of three urban J apanese hospitals. Objective sleep quality was measured using actigraphy for 48 h at 1, 2 and 4 months postpartum. The F riedman test was used to test for differences in sleep parameters across time. Sleep duration ( SMIN ) increased significantly from 2 months (Mean ( M ) = 301.94 min) to 4 months ( M  = 372.78 min). Sleep efficiency ( SE ) increased significantly from 1 month (73.52%) to 2 (86.66%) and 4 months (89.05%). Waking after sleep onset ( WASO ) decreased significantly from 1 month ( M  = 114.64 min) to 2 ( M  = 40.18 min) and 4 months ( M  = 38.36 min) and long waking episodes ( LWEP ) significantly decreased from 1 month (4.67) to 2 (2.69) and 4 months (3.12). Persistent postpartum sleep problems can be a sign of postpartum depression as well as health problems among infants.