Sleep pattern gender differences and fragmentation in postpartum parents of twins

Abstract

Objective: Parents of newborn twins are at risk for both shortened sleep duration and sleep discontinuity. The purpose of this study was to characterize weekday and weekend sleep duration, sleep continuity, and awakenings in both mothers and fathers of newborn twins during the first 3 months at home. Material and Methods: Sleep-wake parameters were assessed at two time points using self-report diaries and actigraphy in 75 families with newborn twins. To assess sleep on weekdays and weekends with minimal subject burden, actigraphy recordings of both parents commenced at 9:00 p.m. Saturday and terminated at 9:00 p.m. Tuesday. Results: Mean sleep duration over 24 hours for parents of twins ranged between 6.7 and 7.5 hours during the first 3 months postpartum and did not significantly differ on weekdays or weekends for mothers. Weekend sleep was more fragmented for fathers at both one month and three months with more awakenings, compared to weekday sleep. Mothers had more fragmented night sleep compared to fathers at one month. In contrast, at three months postpartum fathers had shorter total sleep time and night sleep time, but fewer night awakenings on weekdays than mothers. No differences were observed in weekend sleep duration or sleep patterns between mothers and fathers at three months. Discussion: Consolidated sleep periods for both parents averages three hours or less during the first three months postpartum and sleep for both parents is fragmented. In families with newborn twins, the extent of sleep disruption for mothers and fathers is similar.

Ecological momentary assessment of postpartum outcomes in mothers of multiples: lower maternal-infant bonding, higher stress, and more disrupted sleep

“…Although research on postpartum sleep, in general, is widespread (Hunter et al 2009 ), few studies have assessed sleep in parents of multiples. Those that have suggest restricted sleep duration (Damato and Burant 2008 ) and repeated sleep disruption (Damato et al 2021 ) are prevalent. No studies of which we are aware have included a comparison sample of parents of singletons, however, and many suffer from methodological limitations, such as limited information about twins’ age (Yokoyama 2002 ); small and homogeneous samples, no verification of when sleep diaries were completed (Damato and Burant 2008 ); and lack of reporting about time spent awake after sleep onset, napping, or other important variables (Damato et al 2021 ).…”