New Mothers and Sleep Deprivation

One of the most difficult needs for a new mom to get met is sleep. Most babies don't start sleeping through the night until after the first 3 months postpartum (some many months afterwards). During this time, a new mom is up either breastfeeding or bottle feeding her baby usually every 2-3 hours, 24 hours a day. So, what's a new mom to do? The first thing you need to do is set up your support system (that network of friends and family who are generous enough to give you some of their valuable time) so that you can take naps. Also, have your life partner/spouse take over one or more of the overnight feedings a couple of times a week so that you can get more than a couple hours of sleep at a time. Or, you can hire a night nurse or nanny. That would certainly simplify things.

Many new mothers believe that they can function well on just a few hours of sleep a night. According to an informal survey published in Parents.com, many new mothers reported feeling “generally well-rested…[on] less than six hours of sleep a night.” Part of this attitude reflects a feeling of “new-parent joy…[and] adrenaline,” according to Isadora Fox, but part of it also reflects the inability of these women to predict how sleepy they are.

As a first time mother you need your rest so that you can continue to have the energy to respond to your baby. Chronic sleep deprivation leads to lower energy, irritability, anxiety, and depression, as well as memory lapses, a reduced ability to concentrate, a shorter attention span, tiredness, a reduced ability to tolerate stress, and changes in appetite. Even if you do not feel tired, you may notice that you are easily frustrated, or more irritable, sleepy at certain times of the day, or forgetful. Pay attention to signs of sleep deprivation. If you find, for example, that you have just put the milk into the cupboard and the cereal box into the fridge, it is a clear sign that you are not getting enough sleep.

One mother's succinct description for how to know if you're sleep-deprived describes it best...





Original post on New Mom Central.