According to new research published in the journal PLOS One this year, half of new mothers are still excessively sleepy during the daytime four months after giving birth, raising the question of whether a four-month maternity break is sufficient for working mums.

The research also found that it was sleep quality rather than quantity that is important.

Sleep disruption strongly influences daytime functioning including the capacity to deal with the unexpected, changing situations and distractions, as well as the ability to evaluate risks, the research says. And while the implications of sleep loss on shift-workers and commercial drivers has long been examined, postpartum women are largely overlooked.

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