Sleep disturbance in late pregnancy and type and duration of labour

In this study, the relationship between sleep quality and type and duration of labour has been evaluated. A total of 88 pregnant women completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Questionnaire three times during their last 3 weeks of pregnancy at their prenatal visits and once postpartum. A mean score of >5 was considered as poor-quality sleep. Duration of labour, type of delivery and weight of the newborn at delivery was considered. Of the study population, 56.2% were categorised as the good-quality sleep group and 43.8% as the poor-quality sleep group. The reported sleeping time per day was 8.47 +/- 1.86 hours for the good-quality sleep group and 6.45 +/- 2.07 hours for the poor-quality sleep group. The poor-quality sleep women were 20% more likely to undergo caesarean section and had a longer labour duration. Gestational age at delivery and mean gravidity was respectively 38.53 +/- 1.17 weeks and 1.91 +/- 1.03 in the good-quality sleep group and 38.36 +/- 1.59 weeks and 1.86 +/- 1.07 in the poor-quality sleep group. Thus, it was found that women with sleep problems experience longer labour duration and are more likely to undergo a caesarean section.