Sleep and Circadian Rhythms in the Perinatal Period

Sleep and circadian disruption are increasingly recognized as key factors shaping maternal quality of life as well as health outcomes during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Hormonal shifts, sleep fragmentation, and irregular light exposure can desynchronize maternal circadian rhythms, with downstream effects on mood, metabolic regulation, immune function, and birth outcomes. Similarly, the developing fetal and neonatal circadian system is shaped by maternal cues, with implications for infant sleep consolidation and long-term health trajectories. Despite growing recognition of these links, the mechanisms connecting circadian biology to perinatal health remain underexplored, and evidence-based interventions are limited. This Research Topic welcomes original research, reviews, and protocols examining sleep and circadian biology across the perinatal period, from basic chronobiology through clinical and public health applications. We particularly encourage submissions that bridge mechanistic insight with practical strategies to support maternal and infant wellbeing. Subtopics of particular interest include: - Maternal sleep and circadian misalignment during pregnancy and postpartum period - Interventions for perinatal insomnia and fatigue - Chronobiology of labour and birth timing - Fetal and neonatal circadian development - Circadian health and its interplay with maternal mental health and wellbeing - Light exposure, shift work, and other environmental influences on perinatal circadian rhythms - Circadian regulation of metabolic and immune function in pregnancy Topic editors: Meagan Emily Crowther, Danielle Wilson Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/85837/sleep-and-circadian-rhythms-in-the-perinatal-period