If you are pregnant or have just had a baby then congratulations! If you’re lucky enough to have just had a baby and still have the time to read this, then congratulations again! Giving birth is one of the most incredible feelings there is, but there are times when parenthood feels anything but wonderful. Why is that?
Even the biggest and best events of your life are going to have some stress attached to them. Think of how stressful it is to plan a wedding, the so-called happiest day of your life. Everyone gets excited when a new baby is born. You’ll be swamped with company almost as soon as the baby is delivered. Hospitals don’t seem to offer much advice or help to first-time mothers though. They just send them home with a small bundle that has a long list of demands and no way to convey them. It’s up to you to interpret their needs. New babies also don’t sleep a whole lot. At least, they don’t sleep long enough to let you get some rest of your own.
Add in the hormonal changes that happen during and after pregnancy and you have yourself a stress cocktail. Sometimes it feels like you’ll never get to sleep through the night again. Well, you probably won’t get to until your baby settles into their own routine.
Here are some tips to help first-time moms get some extra sleep during those stressful first few weeks and months;
First off, never try to be supermom. Don’t be afraid to take a nap of your own when the baby settles down for their nap. The dishes can wait. So can the laundry. There’s no need to have a perfect house. There’s going to be time to get everything done later. Right now, you need to give yourself a break. Take a break whenever you can get it.
If you have someone who can help you out, such as a friend or relative, then have them take care of things for an afternoon while you rest. Grandma would no doubt love the chance to get the baby all to themselves for an hour or two!
When the time comes to put the baby down for the night, take time to yourself to relax and unwind so you’re more likely to get the sleep you need. Have a scented bath, but on some relaxing music, and pamper yourself a little for once. Sometimes it can be hard to fall asleep even without a baby. There’s going to be a lot to get used to, but you can do it!