Relationship Between the Severity of Sleep Deprivation in the First 48 Hours Postpartum, Breastfeeding Motivation, and Breastfeeding Success

Condition(s) studied

Study summary

The postpartum period is a critical time marked by significant physiological and psychosocial changes that can affect sleep, emotional well-being, and breastfeeding behaviors. Previous studies indicate that mode of delivery and sleep quality are closely associated with breastfeeding outcomes, with cesarean birth often linked to poorer sleep and lower breastfeeding success. Evidence also suggests that postpartum sleep disturbances are related to reduced breastfeeding self-efficacy, lower motivation, fatigue, depressive symptoms, and shorter breastfeeding duration.

However, the literature lacks studies that evaluate insomnia severity, breastfeeding motivation, and breastfeeding success simultaneously-particularly during the first 48 hours after birth. This analytical study aims to assess insomnia severity, breastfeeding motivation, and breastfeeding success (LATCH) within the first 48 postpartum hours and to examine the relationships among these variables. Findings are expected to support early postpartum clinical interventions to improve maternal and infant health outcomes.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Breastfeeding Success (LATCH Score) — Within the first 48 hours postpartum (one-time assessment at enrollment)
  Breastfeeding success will be assessed using the LATCH Breastfeeding Assessment Tool, which evaluates five domains: latch, audible swallowing, type of nipple, maternal comfort (breast/nipple), and holding/positioning. Each item is scored from 0 to 2, with a total score ranging from 0 to 10. Higher scores indicate greater breastfeeding success.
• Insomnia Severity (Insomnia Severity Index, ISI) — Within the first 48 hours postpartum (one-time assessment at enrollment)
  Insomnia severity will be measured using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), a 7-item self-report questionnaire assessing difficulty initiating sleep, difficulty maintaining sleep, early morning awakening, satisfaction with sleep, interference with daytime functioning, noticeability of impairment, and distress caused by sleep problems. Each item is scored from 0 to 4, yielding a total score of 0-28. Higher scores indicate more severe insomnia.
• Breastfeeding Motivation (Breastfeeding Motivation Scale Subscale Scores) — Within the first 48 hours postpartum (one-time assessment at enrollment)
  Breastfeeding motivation will be evaluated using the Breastfeeding Motivation Scale based on Self-Determination Theory. The scale includes 24 items rated on a 4-point Likert scale and provides scores for five subdomains: integrated regulation, intrinsic motivation/identified regulation, introjected regulation (social approval), introjected regulation (social pressure), and external regulation (secondary benefits). Subscale scores are calculated as the mean of items within each subdomain; higher scores indicate stronger motivation of that type.
• Maternal and Neonatal Characteristics (Descriptive Data Form) — Within the first 48 hours postpartum (one-time assessment at enrollment)
  Participant demographic, obstetric, delivery-related, neonatal, breastfeeding history, breastfeeding-related characteristics, and sleep habit information will be collected using a structured descriptive information form developed by the researchers based on the literature.

Trial sites (1)

More Acibadem University trials in Turkey

Other trials for the same condition