Just had a baby...how do I work around the sleep deprivation?

Answer 1

this is the hardest part for me too. Mie is now a year and things are going more smoothly. When I had my baby, i kept hearing suck it up or you'll get through it type comments. These infurated me, so i will NOT give that type of advice to you. Sleep deprivation is real and will start to affect your mood. It can also contribute to a post-partum depression. So i feel its important to address. How does your baby sleep?

I also hated the advice to sleep when you baby sleeps. My baby expected me to hold him in an upright position so that was soo hard for me to do.BUT if you can catch a nap even one hour while the baby is in a swing, etc this may help revive you.

the best things I can tell you are:

1. restructi=ure your bed time to that of the baby, yes this means you may have to go to bed at 6. i found if i could go to bed around then and on and off sleep til the morning, it helped alot.
2. have you mom, sister, a friend, husband, boyfriend, sitter, etc hold and take care of the baby while you catch a long nap.
3. if you are breast feeding, pump a couple feedings so that you can sleep a good stretch at night and have your husband, spouse, etc do one of the early night feedings. if your baby is eating every 3 hours then this shuld give you a 6 hour stretch to get some zz's in.
4. try and get your baby on a flexible schedule (i know people say demand feed and that is also good. i would never force a non-hungry baby to eat just because the cock says its time BUT on the other hand never having any type of schedule at all leaves the mother feeling exahusted. its hard t plan when you can get a shower, nap , etc when there is no predicitbility or structure to your day.

of course i had the hardest time at this stage of the game cause I did NONE of the above..no one told me practial advice on helping me w/ the baby! and I was alone 95 % of the time. GET and ACCEPT help, try not to do it alone! Let your house work and dinners go a bit til you get through the worst of it.

IT does GET BETTER!

Answer 2

The first and most important thing is sleep when your baby sleeps. If you just had a baby, you can't expect to be able to do everything you were doing before.

Next, get as much sleep as you can at night, too. You will probably get more sleep if baby sleeps in your bed. First of all, mothers and babies who sleep next to each other sleep "in sync" so that when baby wakes up, you'll be in a lighter stage of sleep, so you'll be losing less right there (many mothers even wake up just before baby does). Secondly, baby won't have to wake up entirely, so she/he won't be screaming and will fall back asleep faster. Third, you can nurse her/him and fall right back asleep nursing.

During the day, even if you can't sleep, try to rest. Leaning back on a comfortable couch and closing your eyes for even a few minutes will make you feel at least a little refreshed.

And lastly, try to keep your perspective. The days are long right now, but believe me, the months and years fly by!! Enjoy the baby now, because if you blink, she/he will be all grown.

Answer 3

Try to catch some sleep when your baby sleeps. If you have problems sleeping during the day, try to at least settle down on the couch and relax. I had a baby about six weeks ago, and I asked the same thing. Things WILL get better. I can surely emphasize, as all the other mommies, with you. Don't be afraid to take people's offers on helping out with baby. I know we surely did. Good luck and hang in there, and try not to over do things for yourself.

Answer 4

Like everyone else said sleep when baby sleeps is a good solution but you can't live like that forever.

You need to look at why your baby is so unsettled? How old is the baby? Have you installed a routine for you and the baby yet?

There are a lot of things you can do, I read the Baby Whisperer by Tracy Hogg and found it the most useful book, full of practical good advice.

Best thing you can do is remember that it does get easier!

Answer 5

Sleep when the baby does, if thats not always possible, just close your eyes and take a deep breath in and out a few times. Think about your toes, your legs, your thighs, your body etc till you think about every part of you that is tired, breath in and out throughout this process, thinking about nothing else but that body part, it really helps., but I strongly suggest being very disciplined with sleeping and your baby. I know it's easy to say now, as soon as your baby sleeps through the night (approx 3 months old) be very disciplined in your bedtime routine, I did that and my baby is now 16 months and she has slept through the night (11-12hrs) since 3 months old. I do everything the same or similar and she can judge what time it is according to the activities/actions. Some friends of mine chose to rock their babies/keep their babies up etc and now they always complain that the baby is 13 months old and is still being rocked to sleep. Good luck.

Answer 6

sleep when the baby sleeps. switch off your phone/mobile, request friends and relatives to call your partner if its important, ignore the doorbell (its always a sales person or a bill anyway), request your partner to share night duty with you (even if you breastfeed, the nights he handles the baby - you can express it and bottle it), use relaxing techniques like yoga and meditation, share chores, stock the freezer for the month (so you dont have additional work like grocery shopping) - thats about all you can do, though there is solace in the fact that most babies get a sleep pattern within 3-4 months of birth. All the best, MOM'S ROCK!!!

Answer 7

Mother of two and my advice to all the knew mothers to be is enjoying your sleep..I can handle everything except not getting my 8hrs of sleep..Don't worry, just try to sleep when baby does or if you can't because I know I can't just relax. Sit down on the coach and watch tv, read mag. Remember that it's only for the first few mths. Hopefully by 3mths baby starts sleeping more hrs.I heard that from that time they start and then remember by 4mths they get rice so they for sure tend to sleep a little longer because their lit tummies are fuller and don't need to wake up as much for food. Good luck..My is almost 4mths and trust me I am "SUPER EXCITED" "HAPPY, JOY, JOY".

Answer 8

Do whatever other parent has done. Sleep when your baby sleeps. It's only for a few months or so!

Catch up on your sleep on the weekend. Take turns sleeping. Mom sleeps first, dad second etc. Hire a nanny or babysitter!

Answer 9

teach your baby not to be held when eating, i never took my baby out of the bassinet at night, i would sleep my baby on his side put a rolled up blanket behind him so he cant fall on his back and place the bottle in this mouth and secure it with a little towel underneath, go back to sleep, trust me baby will be okay he will start crying if the bottle falls out of this mouth, once he finishes his bottle he will go back to sleep, you can burp him in the morning, this may sound stupid but it gets baby into a routine and he doesn't depend on you holding him all the time. you can sleep while hes drinking, if you really want sleep i would strongly suggest formula instead of breastmilk.

Answer 10

The biggest rules to remember are.. When baby sleeps, you sleep. AND Never say no to help. If your mother in law that you can't stand comes over and offers to do the dishes.. say yes and lay down on the couch..