Moeko Tanaka

Dr. Moeko Tanaka serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Midwifery and
Women’s Health at the University of Tokyo. After completing her studies at Kyoto
University, she gained practical experience as a midwife at both the Kyoto University
Hospital and the Matsugaoka Birth Center. Her postgraduate research was connected to
the Japan Pregnancy and Eating and Activity Cohort (J-PEACH), a multi-center prospective
birth cohort that primarily investigates the impact of maternal lifestyle on perinatal
outcomes.
Her research primarily examines pregnant women’s sleep patterns and physical activity.
For her PhD in Health Sciences, which she completed in 2024, she utilized an
accelerometer to explore the associations between perinatal sleep, physical activity, and
the presence of depressive symptoms and anxiety.
She is currently engaged in midwifery education and research that investigates the
interplay between sleep habits, napping, and sedentary behavior in pregnant women, as
well as their effects on health and daily functioning. Through her work, she aims to
disseminate evidence that helps create a supportive environment for pregnant women.