New research indicates that mothers' poor sleep quality during late pregnancy may be linked to their children's weight trajectory. Infants of mothers with poor sleep tended to weigh less during the first six months of life, but by ages one and two, they weighed more than children of mothers who slept better.
The pattern was most pronounced in male infants and in babies born at term. These findings suggest a potential connection between maternal sleep quality in late pregnancy and later childhood weight, though the study does not prove cause and effect.
Further research would be needed to understand the underlying mechanisms and whether improving sleep in late pregnancy could alter these outcomes.