A mixed-method examination of maternal and paternal nocturnal caregiving.

Salvatore P Insana, Craig F Garfield, Hawley E Montgomery-Downs

Author Information

PMID: 24007974 DOI: 10.1016/j.pedhc.2013.07.016

OBJECTIVES: The study objectives were to describe and compare causes of, and activities during, postpartum parents' nocturnal awakenings.
METHODS: Twenty-one primiparous postpartum couples were studied for 1 week with qualitative and quantitative methods.
RESULTS: Mothers reported more awakenings per night (3.3 ± 1.1) and more wake time after going to sleep (116.0 ± 60.0 minutes) compared to fathers (2.4 ± 0.5 and 42.7 ± 39.4 minutes, respectively). "Actions taken" during maternal nocturnal awakenings were primarily for infant feeding (49.0%), general infant care (18.5%), and infant changing (12.0%). "Actions taken" during paternal nocturnal awakenings were primarily "passive awakenings" (35.9%), for self-care (18.4%), and for infant feeding (9.4%).
CONCLUSIONS: Qualitative analyses revealed ways that new families can optimize the sleep of both parents while also providing optimal nocturnal infant care.

Maternal child care family paternal sleep

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R21HD053836/NICHD NIH HHS
T32 GM081741/NIGMS NIH HHS
T32 HL082610/NHLBI NIH HHS
K23 HD060664/NICHD NIH HHS
1K23HD060664-01A2/NICHD NIH HHS
T32GM081741/NIGMS NIH HHS
R21 HD053836/NICHD NIH HHS
T32 HL-082610-04/NHLBI NIH HHS

Caregivers

Fathers

Female

Humans

Male

Mothers

Parent-Child Relations

Journal Article Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

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