A Massey University research team needs 1000 pregnant women to take part in a sleep study.
The study, called E Moe, Mama, will track the women's sleep patterns and examine how patterns change during and after pregnancy.
Sleep researcher Sarah-Jane Paine said the study needed 500 Maori and 500 non-Maori to take part.
"We are doing the research to understand how sleep for wahine hapu (pregnant women) changes during pregnancy and after birth, and how those changes might affect a mother's birth experience and her mood," she said.
More than 600 women had enrolled in the study so far but only 70 were Maori, Dr Paine said.
"We need to get pregnant Maori women involved to make sure that this important research provides information that is useful for Maori and non-Maori women," she said.
Participants would be required to fill out several confidential questionnaires during their pregnancy.
The study has funding support from the Health Research Council.
NZPA
source: newshub archive
