A mother holding her baby under a starry sky, representing the challenges of postpartum sleep.

Sleepless Nights? Understanding Postpartum Sleep Changes

Jordan Keane in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"A longitudinal study reveals how sleep patterns and daytime sleepiness evolve in new mothers during the first 18 weeks postpartum."

The arrival of a new baby brings immense joy, but it also introduces a period of significant adjustment for mothers, particularly when it comes to sleep. Navigating the demands of parenthood while experiencing disrupted sleep can impact daytime functioning and overall well-being. While sleep studies often focus on shift workers or patients with sleep disorders, the experiences of postpartum women are frequently overlooked.

Childbirth is a common yet extraordinary experience. In 2011 alone, over 300,000 infants were born in Australia and over 5 million in the European Union, highlighting the widespread nature of postpartum sleep challenges. Fortunately, sleep diaries and sleepiness measures can effectively assess and improve sleepiness in postpartum mothers. Understanding sleep changes is crucial to support new mothers.

This article breaks down a recent study that followed healthy postpartum women for 18 weeks, examining how their sleep patterns and daytime sleepiness changed over time. We'll explore the key findings, offering insights and practical implications for healthcare providers, policymakers, and new mothers alike.

The Changing Landscape of Postpartum Sleep

A mother holding her baby under a starry sky, representing the challenges of postpartum sleep.

Researchers tracked 33 healthy postpartum women, recording their sleep and wake episodes at 6, 12, and 18 weeks after childbirth. While the total amount of nighttime sleep and the frequency of nighttime wakings remained consistent, the study revealed a significant reduction in sleep disruption due to fewer minutes spent awake after initially falling asleep.

Subjective sleepiness, measured using the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS), correlated with sleep quality at the earlier time points (weeks 6 and 12) but not with sleep quantity. Epworth Sleepiness Scores (ESS) also significantly decreased over time, although over half of the participants still experienced excessive daytime sleepiness (ESS ≥12) by week 18.

Consistent Sleep Duration: Total nighttime sleep remained relatively stable across the 18 weeks.
Reduced Sleep Disruption: Wake time after sleep onset decreased, indicating improved sleep efficiency.
Daytime Sleepiness Lingers: While ESS scores improved, many women still reported excessive daytime sleepiness at week 18.
Subjective vs. Objective: Early on, subjective sleepiness correlated with sleep quality, but later, total sleep time became more influential.

These results highlight the dynamic nature of sleep and sleepiness in the postpartum period. Understanding these changes can inform better interventions and policies to support new mothers.

Implications and Support for New Mothers

The study's findings have practical implications for healthcare providers, who should consider the evolving nature of sleep and sleepiness when designing interventions for new mothers. Recognizing that sleep quality is crucial in the early weeks, interventions might focus on strategies to minimize sleep disruption and improve sleep efficiency.

For policymakers, the high prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness underscores the need for adequate parental leave entitlements. Ensuring sufficient time for sleepiness to diminish before returning to the workforce can support the health and safety of new parents and their families.

Ultimately, understanding and addressing sleep challenges in the postpartum period is essential for promoting the well-being of new mothers and fostering positive parenting experiences. By acknowledging these changes and providing targeted support, we can empower mothers to thrive during this transformative time.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1371/journal.pone.0103513, Alternate LINK

Title: Longitudinal Change In Sleep And Daytime Sleepiness In Postpartum Women

Subject: Multidisciplinary

Journal: PLoS ONE

Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)

Authors: Ashleigh J. Filtness, Janelle Mackenzie, Kerry Armstrong

Published: 2014-07-31

Everything You Need To Know

What key changes occur in sleep patterns during the first 18 weeks after giving birth, according to this research?

The study found that total nighttime sleep remained relatively stable across the first 18 weeks postpartum. However, the amount of time spent awake after initially falling asleep decreased, suggesting an improvement in sleep efficiency over time. Despite this, many women still experienced excessive daytime sleepiness by week 18, indicating that while sleep becomes more consolidated, the need for sleep may still be unmet.

How is the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS) used in this study, and what does it reveal about sleepiness in new mothers?

The Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS) is used to measure subjective sleepiness. The study revealed that subjective sleepiness, as measured by the KSS, correlated with sleep quality in the early postpartum weeks (6 and 12). This means that a mother's perception of her sleepiness was closely tied to how well she felt she slept during that period. Later on, this correlation shifted, and total sleep time became more influential.

What does the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) tell us about daytime sleepiness in postpartum women?

The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is used to assess daytime sleepiness. While ESS scores improved over time, the study indicated that over half of the participants still experienced excessive daytime sleepiness (ESS ≥12) by week 18. This suggests that despite some adaptation in sleep patterns, many new mothers continue to struggle with significant daytime sleepiness well into the postpartum period. Further research could explore interventions to mitigate this persistent sleepiness.

How can healthcare providers use these findings about postpartum sleep to better support new mothers?

Healthcare providers can use the study's findings to understand the dynamic nature of sleep and sleepiness in the postpartum period. Interventions in the early weeks might prioritize strategies to minimize sleep disruption and improve sleep efficiency, given the correlation between subjective sleepiness and sleep quality. As time progresses, interventions may shift towards strategies that promote increased total sleep time, addressing the lingering issue of daytime sleepiness.

What specific postpartum topics related to sleep were not explored, and what further research could be done?

While the study highlights changes in sleep duration, sleep disruption, and daytime sleepiness using the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), it does not delve into potential interventions. Future studies could explore the effectiveness of various strategies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) adapted for postpartum women, mindfulness techniques, or optimized infant care routines, in improving sleep quality and reducing daytime sleepiness. Investigating the impact of social support and partner involvement on maternal sleep could also provide valuable insights.