Breastfeeding, sleep and wake circadian rhythms show distinct temporal emerging patterns

Abstract

2008) Breastfeeding, sleep and wake circadian rhythms show distinct temporal emerging patterns, Biological Rhythm Research, 39:4, 379-387,The emerging patterns of breastfeeding, sleep and wake circadian rhythms in an infant and the breastfeeding emergence pattern of his elder sister are presented. Both children were raised under regular contact with photic and non-photic Zeitgebers. Data are related to the first four months of life of the infants, which correspond to the exclusive and ad libitum breastfeeding stage of their lives. Discrimination is made of ''fastingassociated-wakefulness'' (FAW) which is a wake state without feeding. Our data show that while FAW episodes are concentrated in the diurnal phase of the day since the first week of life, breastfeeding rhythm takes longer to show statistically significant circadian periodicity (four weeks) and to become monophasic, concentrated in the diurnal phase of the day (three/four months). This precedence of the consolidation of FAW rhythm indicates tight association between nocturnal sleep fragmentation and the drive to feed, in the first months of life of infants.

Beliefs About Infant Regulation, Early Infant Behaviors and Maternal Postnatal Depressive Symptoms

“…Normative infant behavior at this time is characterized by short sleep–wake cycles and high frequency of feeding. There exists, however, considerable variation in infant regulation that manifests in crying, feeding, settling, and sleeping behaviors . Although some infants quickly regulate, others take longer to achieve regulation of sleeping and feeding patterns such that they are more predictable for parents and therefore less demanding .…”

Association between breastfeeding and new mothers’ sleep: a unique Australian time use study

“…Variation of sleep hours by feeding method is consistent with biological as well as social explanations. Components of breastmilk may influence sleep patterns of infants [ 1 , 21 ], and feeding rhythms also interact in complex ways with development of more mature diurnal sleep rhythms in newborns [ 22 ]. For example breastmilk contains hormones such as leptin and melatonin influencing appetite and sleep respectively, and milk fat content is lower during the night and morning feedings [ 23 ].…”

“…For example breastmilk contains hormones such as leptin and melatonin influencing appetite and sleep respectively, and milk fat content is lower during the night and morning feedings [ 23 ]. It has been proposed that diurnal sleep rhythms of infants consolidate earlier than feeding rhythms [ 22 ].…”