Femtech Fes! Vol. 13 "New Ways to Deal with Night Crying ~ Babytech & Femtech"

Even though they were sleeping soundly with angelic faces, they would suddenly start crying in the middle of the night, and no matter how much you comforted them, they wouldn't stop... This is "night crying" in babies, and its medical reasons are still not clearly understood. Many mothers are tormented by it, and a search for the hashtag "#nightcrying" on Instagram yields over 120,000 posts.

For the 13th Femtech Fes! Online!, we invited Mariko Morita, CEO of Child Health Laboratory, as a special guest. She shared a wealth of information, including changes in sleep cycles during pregnancy that are often overlooked, tips for communicating with partners, and the sleep situations of mothers around the world.

Changes in maternal sleep during pregnancy

In early pregnancy (0-15 weeks), due to the effects of progesterone, mothers may experience strong daytime sleepiness or, conversely, difficulty falling asleep at night.

In mid-pregnancy (16-27 weeks), as morning sickness subsides and physical and mental fatigue lessens, stable sleep may become possible. However, as late pregnancy (28 weeks and beyond) approaches, the effects of estrogen can once again lead to lighter sleep.

• Uncomfortable symptoms (frequent urination, lower back pain, leg cramps, shortness of breath, abdominal itching)
• Feeling fetal movement or irregular abdominal contractions
• Increased anxiety about childbirth

A surprising piece of information here was that fetuses actually acquire the basic functions of their biological rhythm around 30 weeks, and can distinguish between day and night even in the womb. Fetuses reportedly distinguish between day and night by sensing fluctuations in maternal melatonin levels in the blood, which are secreted intensively at night.

We also touched on the possibility that the mother's sleep cycle affects the fetus. Studies show that if pregnant mice or monkeys are kept in a bright environment for 24 hours, their biological rhythms may not synchronize with a 24-hour cycle, fetal mouse growth may be delayed, and stress hormone (cortisol) levels may increase, negatively affecting mood regulation and cognitive function. We also introduced research findings that professions experiencing night shifts or jet lag during pregnancy have a higher incidence of low birth weight, premature birth, and miscarriage.

Changes in maternal sleep postpartum

After childbirth, female hormones, which were abundant during pregnancy, rapidly decrease, leading to continuous sleep deprivation due to the baby's night crying and breastfeeding. According to a survey by the parenting media "HugKum," the average sleep time for mothers of newborns is about 3-4 hours (33.6%), and the period of sleep deprivation lasted "for about 3 months" (28.7%) for the majority.

While night crying usually peaks in the first three months, Dr. Morita mentioned that some babies continue to cry at night for almost a year afterward. In the survey results, the second-highest number of mothers (18.0%) reported that their sleep deprivation continued "even after 1 year old."

Is Japan a "sleep-deficient country"?

Japan has the shortest average sleep duration among OECD countries (442 minutes), and research shows that women sleep less than men. While men's average sleep was 7 hours and 28 minutes, women's was 7 hours and 15 minutes.

Furthermore, it has been found that not only mothers but also children in Japan suffer from sleep deprivation. In a study targeting mothers worldwide, 78% of Japanese mothers reported "sleep deprivation," compared to a global average of 54.7%. Additionally, an American study published in 2010 investigating the sleep duration of children aged 3 months to 3 years in 17 countries and regions around the world found that Japanese children had the lowest average of 11.6 hours.

Global Bedtime Routines

In this context, we introduced various global methods for putting babies to sleep, drawing on the experiences of Fermata members who have lived abroad. We discussed how whether a baby is put to sleep on their stomach or back varies by country and era, and examples such as maids putting babies to sleep in Singapore.

Furthermore, while co-sleeping culture is still deeply rooted in Japan, we also highlighted that in Western countries, it is common for babies to sleep in a separate room from their parents. According to Dr. Morita, research suggests that it is very important for parents not to be nearby when a baby sleeps to reduce night crying. A study that surveyed approximately 30,000 babies in 17 countries and regions found that babies were more likely to cry at night if their parents co-slept with them or put them to sleep with breast milk or formula in the middle of the night.

Femtech & Babytech supporting mothers and babies postpartum

Finally, we introduced domestic and international Femtech & Babytech products that support mothers and babies struggling with night crying.

Ava & Fitbit Versa
The "Ava" ovulation detection bracelet and the "Fitbit Versa" smartwatch for women both have functions to track sleep quality and cycles.

Circadian Optics
Stylish therapy light that supports your circadian rhythm.

Maven Clinic
An online platform where mothers can consult healthcare professionals about health and medical issues, including sleep coaches.

Papatto Ikuji (Quick Parenting)
A parenting log app with a crying analysis function. It tracks not only the frequency and amount of breast milk or formula and changes in sleep time, but also measures and records data such as infant height, weight, and temperature.

hugsafety
A mat-type IoT sensor that connects with the "hugnote" communication book service to detect anomalies in a child's breathing and heart rate during naps in real time via smartphone or tablet.

Owlet Monitor Duo
Monitors a baby's heart rate and blood oxygen levels during sleep. It connects with an app to monitor blood oxygen levels, allowing parents to check if the baby's breathing is becoming excessively shallow during sleep.

Nanit
Baby sleep monitor camera and wearable device. Measures sleep cycles, patterns, and breathing in real-time by reading patterns printed on fabric. Due to self-isolation, 20% of active users are families with grandparents, uncles, or aunts of the baby (according to Nanit).p>

While Femtech and Babytech solutions that support postpartum mothers and infants are continually emerging both domestically and internationally, there is still a tendency for fewer solutions that partners can actively use. Products and services that directly address the communication challenges between partners, which are often raised at Femtech Fes!, may be a field that will be developed in the future.

This session made me feel that we should strive for a society where mothers don't have to carry their various worries alone, and where using Femtech solutions and support like babysitters is normalized without guilt.