1. Bespoke (custom-built) Raspberry Pi cameras are increasingly popular research tools in the fields of behavioral ecology and conservation, because of their comparative flexibility in programmable settings, ability to be paired with other sensors, and because they are typically cheaper than commercially built models.2. Here, we describe a novel, Raspberry Pi-based camera system that is fully portable and yet weatherproof-especially to humidity and salt spray. The camera was paired with a passive infrared sensor, to create a movement-triggered camera capable of recording videos over a 24-hr period. We describe an example deployment involving "retro-fitting" these cameras into artificial nest boxes on Praia Islet, Azores archipelago, Portugal, to monitor the behaviors and interspecific interactions of two sympatric species of storm-petrel (Monteiro's storm-petrel Hydrobates monteiroi and Madeiran storm-petrel Hydrobates castro) during their respective breeding seasons.3. Of the 138 deployments, 70% of all deployments were deemed to be "Successful" (Successful was defined as continuous footage being recorded for more than one hour without an interruption), which equated to 87% of the individual 30-s videos.The bespoke cameras proved to be easily portable between 54 different nests and reasonably weatherproof (~14% of deployments classed as "Partial" or "Failure" deployments were specifically due to the weather/humidity), and we make further trouble-shooting suggestions to mitigate additional weather-related failures.4. Here, we have shown that this system is fully portable and capable of coping with salt spray and humidity, and consequently, the camera-build methods and scripts could be applied easily to many different species that also utilize cavities, burrows, and artificial nests, and can potentially be adapted for other wildlife monitoring situations to provide novel insights into species-specific daily cycles of behaviors and interspecies interactions.

Background Insomnia symptoms are common during the postpartum period, yet interventions remain scarce. This trial aimed to simultaneously examine the efficacy of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and light dark therapy (LDT), targeting different mechanisms, against treatment-as-usual (TAU), in reducing maternal postpartum insomnia symptoms. Methods This three-arm randomised controlled trial recruited from the general community in Australia. Nulliparous females 4–12 months postpartum with self-reported insomnia symptoms [Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) scores >7] were included; severe medical/psychiatric conditions were excluded. Participants were randomised 1:1:1 to CBT, LDT, or TAU stratified by ISI (< or ⩾14) and infant age (< or ⩾8 months). Participants and principal investigators were unblinded. Six-week interventions were delivered via digital materials and telephone. The primary outcome was insomnia symptoms (ISI), assessed pre-, midpoint-, post- (primary endpoint), and one-month post-intervention. Analyses were intention-to-treat using latent growth models. Results 114 participants (CBT = 39, LDT = 36, TAU = 39; Mage = 32.20 ± 4.62 years) were randomised. There were significantly greater reductions in ISI scores in CBT and LDT (effect sizes −2.01 and −1.52 respectively, p < 0.001) from baseline to post-intervention compared to TAU; improvements were maintained at follow-up. Similar effects were observed for self-reported sleep disturbance. There were greater reductions in fatigue in CBT (effect size = 0.85, p < 0.001) but not LDT (p = 0.11) compared to TAU. Changes in sleepiness, depression, and anxiety were non-significant compared to TAU (all p > 0.08). Four participants (11%) in the LDT group reported headaches, dizziness, or nausea; no others reported adverse events. Conclusions Therapist-assisted CBT and LDT were feasible during the first postpartum year; data at post-intervention and 1-month follow-up support their safety and efficacy in reducing postpartum insomnia symptoms.

Background The association between breastfeeding and sleep of the gestational parent is poorly understood. This longitudinal study investigated how breastfeeding is associated with total nighttime sleep duration and sleep efficiency (percentage of total sleep time in bed) in nulliparous participants over the first two postpartum years. Methods Nulliparous participants (N = 155, Mage = 33.45, SDage = 3.50) self‐reported patterns of breastfeeding via telephone interviews and sleep via self‐report at 1.5, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months postpartum. Data were analyzed using mixed‐effects models, with breastfeeding variables as predictors and sleep variables as outcomes, controlling for relevant covariates. Results Neither the presence of breastfeeding nor the percentage of human milk in infants' total diets was significantly associated with participants' sleep duration or sleep quality (P‐values > 0.08). This finding held after controlling for the number of nighttime feeds (P‐values > 0.11). However, greater numbers of nighttime feeds, regardless of feeding content, were strongly associated with shorter sleep duration and poor sleep efficiency (P‐values < 0.05). On average, with each additional nighttime feed, nocturnal sleep duration decreased by 6.6‐8.4 minutes, and sleep efficiency decreased by 2.88%‐3.02%. Conclusions Data from this study showed that breastfeeding per se was not associated with shorter or poor nocturnal sleep, but the number of nighttime feeds was. Sharing nighttime infant care amongst different carers in the household could help reduce postpartum sleep disturbance and ameliorate its negative impact on wellbeing.

Introduction Symptoms of postpartum insomnia are common however interventions remain scarce. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Light Dark Therapy (LDT) target distinct mechanisms to improve sleep. This randomised controlled superiority trial compared CBT and LDT against treatment-as-usual (TAU) in reducing maternal postpartum insomnia symptoms. Methods Nulliparous females 4–12 months postpartum with self-reported symptoms of insomnia (Insomnia Severity Index scores &gt;7) were included; excluded were those at risk or with high medical/psychiatric needs. Eligible participants were randomised 1:1:1 to 6 weeks of CBT, LDT (gaining light upon awakening, night-time light avoidance) or TAU. Interventions were therapist-assisted through two telephone calls and included automated self-help emails over six weeks. Symptoms of insomnia (ISI; primary outcome), sleep disturbance, fatigue, sleepiness, depression, and anxiety were assessed at baseline, mid-intervention, post-intervention, and 1-month post-intervention. Latent growth models were used. Results 114 participants (mean age=32.2±4.6 years) were randomised. There were significantly greater reductions in insomnia and sleep disturbance in both intervention groups with very large effect sizes (d&gt;1·4, p&lt;0·0001) from baseline to post-intervention compared to TAU; improvements were maintained at one-month follow-up. There were greater reductions in fatigue symptoms in the CBT group (d=0.85, p&lt;.0001) but not LDT (p=0.11) compared to TAU; gains were maintained for CBT at follow-up. Changes in sleepiness, depression and anxiety over time were non-significant compared to TAU (p-values&gt;0.08). Conclusion Therapist-assisted CBT and LDT are both efficacious for reducing postpartum insomnia symptoms. Findings were mixed for fatigue, sleepiness and mood. Future research is needed on predictors of treatment response.

Introduction Symptoms of insomnia are common in the postpartum period and are associated with a range of negative outcomes. Despite this, interventions to improve maternal postpartum sleep remain scarce. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Light Dark Therapy (LDT) target two different mechanisms to reduce sleep disturbance. This randomized controlled trial examined the efficacy of CBT and LDT against a treatment-as-usual (TAU) condition in reducing maternal postpartum insomnia symptoms. Methods Nulliparous women 4–12 months postpartum with self-reported symptoms of insomnia (Insomnia Severity Index scores [ISI] &gt;7) were included; excluded were those with: current severe health/psychiatric conditions, unsettled infant behaviors, sleep-affecting medication use and photosensitivity. Eligible women were randomized 1:1:1 to 6 weeks of CBT (CBT for insomnia and fatigue), LDT (morning bright light therapy, evening light hygiene), or TAU. Interventions were therapist-assisted and personalized through two telephone calls and included automated self-help intervention materials (i.e., emails) delivered over six weeks. Symptoms of insomnia (ISI; primary outcome), fatigue, sleepiness, depression, and anxiety were assessed at baseline, mid-intervention, post-intervention, and 1-month post-intervention. Analyses were intention-to-treat latent growth models. Results 114 women were randomized (mean age = 32.20 ± 4.62 years) and 108 women completed the intervention. Compared to TAU, symptoms of insomnia significantly reduced from baseline to post-intervention in both CBT and LDT groups (p-values &lt;.001), with very large effect sizes (d &gt; 1.5) at post-intervention; gains were maintained at follow-up. Fatigue symptoms significantly reduced in the CBT group (p&lt;.0001; d = 0.85) but not LDT (p = 0.11) compared to TAU at post-intervention; gains were maintained for CBT at follow-up. Group differences in sleepiness, depression, and anxiety were nonsignificant (all p &gt; 0.08). Conclusion Therapist-assisted self-help CBT and LDT with different therapeutic mechanisms are both efficacious for reducing maternal insomnia symptoms during the postpartum period. Findings were mixed for fatigue, sleepiness and mood. Future research on predictors of treatment responses is needed. Support (if any) Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, Department of Education RTP Scholarship. Lucimed SA supplied light therapy glasses. Funders had no role in design/implementation of the trial. ANZCTR: ACTRN12618000842268.