Pregnant women who sleep less than seven hours a night may be harming their unborn baby, warns new research.

Moms-to-be who don’t get enough shut-eye are more likely to have children with developmental delays – with boys at particular risk, say scientists.

They explained that short sleep duration, or SSD, is defined as sleeping less than seven hours per night.

Pregnant women may have trouble sleeping due to several factors, including hormonal changes, discomfort, and frequent need to go to the toilet.

Around four out of 10 pregnant women experience SSD, according to previous research.

Scientists say those women may have a higher risk of impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, and gestational diabetes, and their children may be at higher risk of experiencing neurodevelopmental delays.

According to new research, children are slower to develop their social, emotional, behavioral, motor, cognitive, or speech skills.

Study lead author Doctor Peng Zhu said: “This study highlights the necessity of managing sleep health during pregnancy.

“By shedding light on the connection between maternal sleep during pregnancy and children’s neurodevelopment, our study empowers families with knowledge that can shape healthier pregnancy habits and contribute to the well-being of the next generation.

“Improving sleep habits during pregnancy may prevent or reduce the risk of neurodevelopmental issues in children.”

The researchers analyzed sleep data from more than 7,000 mother-child pairs from three different hospitals in China.

The team screened the children from six months to three years old for developmental delays and examined the link between maternal sleep duration and neurodevelopmental delay risk.

They also evaluated the role of cord blood serum C-peptide levels, which are a stable indicator of fetal insulin secretion.

The study found that insufficient sleep during pregnancy may be associated with an increased risk of neurodevelopmental issues in children, which can affect their cognitive abilities, behavioral development, and learning capabilities.

Boys appear to be at a higher risk of neurodevelopmental delays when their mothers experience SSD during pregnancy, according to the findings published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

The researchers say this suggests that gender plays a “crucial” role in offspring’s response to prenatal environmental factors.

The findings also suggest that lack of sleep during pregnancy might affect the mother’s glucose metabolism, influencing fetal development.

The study also showed that there may be a positive correlation between C-peptide levels in umbilical cord blood and neurodevelopmental delays in offspring, indicating that a mother’s glucose metabolism during pregnancy may impact the insulin secretion of the fetus and, consequently, their neurodevelopment.

Dr. Zhu of Anhui Medical University in China added: “Prenatal health is important not only for the expectant mother but also for the long-term health of the unborn child.”

Produced in association with SWNS Talker