RecruitingNot Applicable

Improving Maternal Sleep and Mental Health

United States342 participantsStarted 2025-01-15

Plain-language summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to test the effectiveness of a Smart Bassinet to prevent/mitigate postpartum mood disorders by augmenting maternal sleep and/or enhancing infant sleep. The investigators will conduct a 2-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) to compare infant and maternal sleep of infants who use a smart bassinet (SB) or a standard commercially available bassinet (Halo Bassinest Swivel Sleeper 3.0) (usual/traditional care (TAU)). After confirmation of eligibility, participants (N = 342) will randomly be assigned to either the SB or TAU. The investigators hypothesize that use of the SB will be associated with better infant and maternal sleep over a 6-month period, and these mothers will report fewer depressive and anxiety symptoms across the postpartum. The main question\[s\] it aims to answer \[is/are\]: Aim 1: Determine the effect of the SB on infant sleep and maternal sleep. \[primary hypothesis or outcome measure 2\]? Aim 2: Determine the effect of the SB on maternal postpartum depressive symptoms and evaluate the model that the association between the SB and postpartum depressive symptoms is mediated by both infant and maternal sleep Aim 3: Compare trajectory of immune system function from late pregnancy through postpartum between PPD and non-PPD and between SB and TAU groups Exploratory Aim. Evaluate whether the elevated risk demonstrated by previously identified PPD epigenetic biomarkers at the TTC9B and HP1BP3 genes can be modified by using a SB. The investigators hypothesize that the elevated risk will be reduced in the SB condition compared to TAU. Military-affiliated pregnant women will be recruited from across the US via social media and advertising. Monthly online questionnaires will be completed by the mother. Objective sleep data will be collected monthly using an actigraph for 1-week from both mother and baby. Blood samples for assay of inflammatory markers will be collected at enrollment, 3- and 6- months postpartum.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 45 Years

Sex

FEMALE

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Pregnant women with a singleton gestation who have a military affiliation * Ages 18-45 years * Ability to communicate during the screening process * Access to a computer, smart phone or tablet with internet service * Willing to use bassinet they are randomized to * Willing to travel to a local Quest for blood draw Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of depression assessed over the phone using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders - Clinical Version, Mood Disorders Section (SCID-I). Current active suicidal ideation, medical or psychiatric instability, or active substance abuse or dependence during the last 90 days. Since this is a study about risk for recurrent PPMD, actively depressed women will be excluded. * Plans to co-sleep with infant. The goal is to compare two bassinets; therefore co-sleeping would prohibit extensive use of a bassinet. * Under the age of 18 years or \> 45 years. The goal is to include women of childbearing age. * Multiple gestations, Type 1 diabetes, congenital fetal anomalies. Women with these factors will likely have major disruption of sleep, require 2 bassinets, or a disrupted home life. These would skew the data and make interpretations and comparisons difficult. * Tobacco use (current). Smoking is associated with poor sleep and inflammation. * Self-reported, untreated comorbid sleep disorders including narcolepsy, periodic leg movement disorder, and/or obstructive sleep apnea. These disorders contribute to poor s…

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Maternal Mood

Timeframe: 0-6 months postpartum

Maternal Sleep

Timeframe: 0-6 months postpartum

Infant Sleep

Timeframe: 0-6 months postpartum

Maternal Inflammation

Timeframe: late pregnancy, 3 & 6 months postpartum

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06544941

SponsorUniversity of Colorado, Colorado Springs

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2027-08

Contact for this trial

Michele L Okun, Ph.D.

412-302-8030 mokun@uccs.edu

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Postpartum Depression trials

Plain-language summary

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 45 Years

Sex

FEMALE

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.