Prevalence of restless legs syndrome/Willis-Ekbom disease (RLS/WED) in pregnant women is two to three fold higher than that in non-pregnant women in similar geographic and/or ethnic populations. Most cases of RLS/WED during pregnancy are of new onset and disappear soon after delivery. In some patients, symptoms of RLS/WED worsen during pregnancy or lactation period and impair their health related quality of life. However, treatment of RLS/WED during pregnancy has not been established yet. In addition to a genetic background of RLS/WED, change of hormonal status, iron deficiency, vitamin D deficiency, and lifestyle related factors, such as smoking, affect the pathophysiology of RLS/WED during pregnancy. Pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH), which is highly comorbid, may affect pregnancy course and delivery outcome. A history of RLS/WED during pregnancy, gestational diabetes mellitus, and PIH increases the risk of chronic persistent RLS/WED after delivery. Providing information about RLS/WED to pregnant women, and medical action against RLS/WED are needed.

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A systematic review aimed to examine the psychological and physiological effects of aromatherapy foot baths during the postpartum period. A database search (Ichu-shi, CiNii, MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO) was conducted for relevant publications in English and Japanese. Two individual reviewers screened the results: first through the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and second through a risk of bias assessment tool. Six articles were included in this review. Three articles showed that“ fatigue” scores of the Profile of Mood States-Brief Form (POMS-BF) or original questionnaires significantly decreased in the aromatherapy foot bath group compared with the group that did not undergo aromatherapy. Compared with the usual care group, the mean “tension-anxiety” and “fatigue” scores of the POMS-BF significantly decreased, the mean “vigor-activity” score of the POMS-BF and mean “approach feelings toward babies” score of the Affection for Babies Scale significantly increased, and the mean “physiological stress response” score of the stress response checklist was lower in the aromatherapy foot bath group. Hence, aromatherapy foot baths used during the postpartum period have the potential to reduce fatigue and negative mood and to promote positive mood. However, further research is required to clarify the effectiveness of this postpartum therapy.

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Restless legs syndrome/Willis-Ekbom disease (RLS/WED) is prevalent during pregnancy. We investigated the prevalence of RLS/WED among 81 high-risk pregnant women requiring hospitalization, at a perinatal medical center in Japan. We also assessed the relationship between RLS/WED and clinical features as well as delivery outcomes in these subjects. A definite or probable RLS/WED was identified in 14 subjects (17.3%). Nine of the 14 subjects (64.3%) had symptoms of RLS/WED before pregnancy. No significant differences were found in the delivery outcomes and pregnancy complications or the level of hemoglobin, ferritin, and folate between the RLS/WED group and the non- RLS/WED group. The frequency of detecting RLS/WED in high-risk pregnant Japanese women was greater compared to the frequency in non-pregnant women of the same age group. It is speculated that RLS/WED before pregnancy is associated with high-risk pregnancy. In the future, a prospective study among RLS/WED women from pre-pregnancy will be required.

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