Study to improve sleep and fatigue in first-time mums commences
Existing research has focused on assisting women with poor sleep while pregnant and in the early postpartum period, but few options of support are available when the sleepless nights continue and the risk of becoming fatigued grows. At this time, the risk of mental health conditions such as depression also increases.
Although sleep problems in the first few months postpartum are expected, around half of women continue to experience significant sleep disturbances well after this point, and even as their baby’s sleep begins to stabilise.
A team at MICCN, led in part by PhD candidate Ms Sumedha Verma from Monash University’s BASE facility, is seeking to improve sleep and wellbeing in first-time mothers through a randomised controlled trial.
The Postpartum Sleep Study for Mothers – or The POSSUM Project – will use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and light therapy to assist with sleep and wellbeing in women 4-12 months following the birth of their first child. The CBT component will cover healthy sleep strategies, fatigue management, relaxation and dealing with worries, infant settling, and self-care. Light therapy will be delivered through glasses that can be compared to a “wearable light box”, which safely emit blue-enriched light into the eye. Those receiving light therapy will also receive specially-tested night lights to assist with their rest at night.
“Our interventions will have therapist-assisted and self-directed components. They’ll also be personalised, with women receiving a one-on-one phone call from myself at the beginning of the study, as well as halfway through, to address their unique sleep issues. The goal is for women to undertake the project so they may take away these new learnings and strategies to ultimately manage their own sleep,” Ms Verma said.
“In general, it’s very important that we address sleep and fatigue concerns in women at this stage in their lives using different treatments so that we can identify and implement the most appropriate treatments. We’re excited to know that our findings may improve the lives of many.”
The POSSUM Project is currently recruiting first-time mothers to participate in this study. More information can be found on the study’s website page, and if you have any queries you can contact psych-possum@monash.edu or call the friendly team on 03 9905 2464.