Naps During Pregnancy May Be Linked With Healthier Birth Weight

 A recent study out of China shows that napping during pregnancy correlated to a healthier birth weight for babies.

Low birth weight, where babies weigh less than 5 ½ pounds at birth can cause complications for children for many years following birth.   Even adults who had a low birth weight are at greater risk for diabetes and hypertension.   Looking into risk factors for low birth weight is beneficial for all.   In the United States 8% of babies are of low birth weight.

10,000 women were studied in China and out of that number 442 had low birth weight babies.

  • Taking a nap of 1 hour to 1 ½ hours reduced risk of low birth weight by 29%.
  • Napping 5 days or 7 days per week reduced risk by 22%
  • Sleep is a vital sign that should be measured.
  • Sleep disorders should be treated. Sleep apnea may restrict oxygen flow to the baby.   If you have sleep apnea it needs to be treated for the health of the mother and the baby.

Pregnant women should try and nap regularly to reduce low birth weight risk for their unborn child.

Key Points:

  • 1A lower birth weight creates risk factors that can lead to difficult conditions as a child and also later in life.
  • 2A birth weight of less than five and a half pounds has been associated with hypertension, diabetes and respiratory diseases.
  • 3Pregnant women should nap often for at least an hour to help assure their baby is born at a healthy weight.


Pregnant women who nap regularly may reduce their baby’s risk of low birth weight, a study from China suggests.
Share

HealthStatus has been operating since 1998 providing the best interactive health tools on the Internet, millions of visitors have used our health risk assessment, body fat and calories burned calculators. The HealthStatus editorial team has continued that commitment to excellence by providing our visitors with easy to understand high quality health content for many years.

User Reviews

Reply

Your email address will not be published

11 + six =

Written by HealthStatus
Medical Writer & Editor

HealthStatus has been operating since 1998 providing the best interactive health tools on the Internet, millions of visitors have used our health risk assessment, body fat and calories burned calculators. The HealthStatus editorial team has continued that commitment to excellence by providing our visitors with easy to understand high quality health content for many years.

View all post by HealthStatus