Do the Sleepless Nights of Young Mothers Make Them Biologically Older?

Loss of sleep could cause an older biological age among new mothers one year post-birth, revealed new research. Greater biological age could probably translate into a greater risk of disease and earlier death.

Scientists from the University of California have tested their hypothesis that links short sleep in mothers to accelerated biological aging and revealed this significant finding in their research paper published in the journal Sleep Health .

What you need to know about Postpartum Psychosis?
What is Postpartum Psychosis? Find the facts of Puerperal (postpartum) psychosis including symptoms, causes, treatment, diagnosis, stages and more information

‘Young mothers who sleep for less than seven hours had shorter telomeres in the white blood cells, predisposing them to several diseases. However, every hour of additional sleep can help reduce the mother's biological age.’

Tweet it Now

The research team studied 33 mothers during their pregnancies and the first year of their babies' lives using some latest scientific methods that analyze changes in DNA.

The results showed scientific evidence of shorter telomeres in the white blood cells of mothers who had less than seven hours of sleep. Telomeres are the terminal segments of chromosomes associated with specialized proteins. Previous studies have shown that the decrease in the length of telomeres could predispose a person to cancers, cardiovascular disease, and earlier death.

The team also showed that the mothers could avoid this risk by planning. "We found that with every hour of additional sleep, the mother's biological age was younger. I, and many other sleep scientists, consider sleep health to be just as vital to overall health as diet and exercise," says Carroll, a member of the Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology at UCLA's Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior.

Top 5 Post-Pregnancy Workouts
Looking to reduce your baby fat? These simple post-pregnancy workouts can help you shed all those extra calories and bounce back to your pre-baby body.

"We don't want the message to be that mothers are permanently damaged by infant care and loss of sleep. We don't know if these effects are long-lasting," highlights Christine Dunkel Schetter, co-author of the study.

The research, in general, showcases the importance of the sleep health of young mothers, which can help them and their babies in the long run. This can be achieved if women get better chances to get a little extra sleep when their baby is asleep, assistance from family and friends, and flexible work schedules whenever possible.

Post-Partum Depression Calculator
Are you suffering from depression after the delivery of your baby. This can be harmful to both you and your baby. Use this seven questions screening test to rule it out.

Source-Medindia

Postpartum Depression is Less Likely to Occur in Women Delivering Babies in Winter
The postpartum depression risk might be greater in women who had delivered in the winter season when compared to summer or fall