Infants' Sleep/Activity Patterns During the Neonatal Period

영아의 수면/활동 양상에 관한 연구

The purpose of this study was to identify the sleep/activity patterns of neonates and to provide a baseline data for the development effective mother-infant relationship. Subjects of this study were 36 newborns aged 1-21 days and stayed in Postpartum Care Center in Taejon during the period of October 28th, 1999 to February 10th, 2000. The data were collected using NCASA developed by Barnard et al. and were analyzed with SPSS 7.5 for window program. The results of this study were as follows: 1. An average day sleep of neonates was 8.0 hours, night sleep was 3.6 hours, and total sleep was 11.6 hours. A longest period of day sleep was 3.8 hours and a longest period of night sleep was 3.4 hours. The regularity of day sleep was 22.1%, night sleep was 23.3%, and total was 22.1%. 2. The frequency of daytime feeding was 6.9, nighttime fee ding was 3.4, resulting in total of 10.3. The regularity of feeding was 37.4%, and the frequency of night awakening was 2.4. 3. Associations among variables related to neonate's sleep/activity records were as follows : - The regularity of total sleep was positively correlated with the frequencies of day sleep(r=.57, P=.00), night sleep (r=.40, P=.01), and total sleep(r=.65, P=.00). - The frequency of total feeding was negatively correlated with the frequencies of day sleep(r=-.29, P=.04), night sleep(r=-.39, P=.02), and total sleep(r=-.42, P=.00), as well as longest day sleep(r=-.50, P=.00). - The regularity of feeding was negatively correlated with the frequency of night sleep(r=-.35, P=.02), longest period of day sleep(r=-.32, P=.04), and longest period of night sleep(r=-.30. P=.04), whereas positively correlated with frequencies of daytime feeding (r=.29, P=.02) and nighttime feeding (r=.32, P=.05). - The frequency of night awakening was negatively correlated with amount of night sleep(r=-.39, P=.02) and frequency of daytime feeding(r=-.42, P=.01) while positively correlated with frequencies of nighttime feeding(r=.68, P=.00) and total feeding(r=.50, P=.00). 4. Although there was no statistical significant difference between sleep pattern and infant's age, following tendency was noted: - As baby gets older, total amount of sleep and longest period of day sleep decreased while longest period of night sleep increased. - As baby gets older, the regularity of day sleep decreased while the regularity of night sleep and total sleep slightly increased. - The frequencies of daytime and total feedings increased while the frequency of nighttime feeding decreased. In conclusion, the author found that the neonates of this study showed less amount of sleep, more night awakening, and more night time feedings than NCAST sample. There was a certain sleep/activity pattern existed: If babies were fed more frequently, daytime or nighttime sleeping hours became shorter, and if babies had longer daytime sleep, frequent nighttime awakenings were noted. This pattern illustrated the significant influence of feeding and sleep periods on each other. Awakening in the night is natural and normal patterns in the newborn period. The result of this study will provide information to parents about what to expect their infants.