Role of a quality sleep on brain health is well-known. Now,new research says that your brain health is determined by the number of hours your mom slept while she was expecting you.

A study published on Thursday in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found sleeping less than seven hours at night during pregnancy increasing the risk of neurodevelopmental delays in children- mainly affecting their social emotional, behavioral, motor, cognitive and speech skills. The association was more visible in boys than girls.

"This study highlights the necessity of managing sleep health during pregnancy. By shedding light on the connection between maternal sleep during pregnancy and children's neurodevelopment, our study empowers families with knowledge that can shape healthier pregnancy habits and contribute to the well-being of the next generation," lead study author Peng Zhu of Anhui Medical University in China, said in a statement. "Improving sleep habits during pregnancy may prevent or reduce the risk of neurodevelopmental issues in children," Zhu added later.

It'svery common to experience sleep issues during pregnancy. It can be caused by various reasons including hormonal changes, a growing belly or due to an increased urinary frequency, according to experts at Johns Hopkins Medicine.Lack of sleep during pregnancy, in their opinion, can increase the risk of high blood pressure, gestational diabetes and can further lead tolengthier labors and a cesarean section.

Previous research shows that nearly 40 percent of women experience sleep problems and sleep less than seven hours during pregnancy. Short sleep duration (SSD) or sleeping less than seven hours, is known to increase risk of impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance and gestational diabetes.

For the study, researchers collected sleep data of 7,059 mothers and their children from hospitals and analyzed brain development of children from six months to three years. Researchers also studied cord blood serum C-peptide levels of mothers and fetal insulin secretion.

At the end of the study, they found a direct link between insufficient sleep during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental issues in children. Lack of sleep during pregnancy affected cognitive abilities, behavioral development and learning capabilities of children, particularly boys.

Sleep deprivation can affect mothers' glucose metabolism and thus affect insulin secretion of the fetus and thus leave a negative impact on fetal development, researchers said.

"Prenatal health is important not only for the expectant mother but also for the long-term health of the unborn child," Zhu explained.

Highlightingthe importance of sleep during pregnancy, Dr. Jodi A. Mindel, associate director of the Sleep Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia,recommends moms-to-be to follow some sleep hygiene tips. According to him maintaining a regular sleep schedule, setting up a comfortable sleep environment like making the room dark, avoiding caffeine and alcohol at night can help improve quality of sleep during pregnancy.