Sleep Characteristics in Breastfeeding and Formula-Feeding Mothers

Abstract

Sleep loss is a common concern frequently expressed by new mothers. This study's purpose was to investigate the difference between sleep architecture, descriptions and self-perception of sleep in breastfeeding and formula-feeding mothers, 4-6 weeks post-partum (N=44). Measurement tools were St.Mary's Hospital Sleep Questionnaire, wrist actigraphy, home polysomnography, and baseline measures: demographics, previous sleep patterns and factors impacting sleep. MANCOVA comparing the sleep architecture characteristics of light sleep, deep sleep, and REM sleep while controlling for age, education and nicotine use, and a t-test on total sleep time, did not demonstrate any significant differences between groups. The variance of sleep characteristics measured was greater within the formula-feeding mothers. There was a mean of 6.6 hours of sleep in both groups with overall sleep satisfaction. In contrast to the study being replicated, sleep did not appear to be significantly different. Wrist actigraphy data reflected more sleep than either polysomnography or self-report.