Six Practical Ways for New Mums to Get More Sleep

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Ireyimika Oyegbami

A scientific journal, JNeuorsci, in its recent report said that, “Sleep loss can contribute to anxiety, stress and emotional reactivity.” This is most likely the reason a sleep deprived mother may feel stressed and otherwise emotionally reactive in certain instances.

Find 6 practical ways to get more sleep…

• Use Other People’s Energy (OPE)
Get other people to use their energy in helping you care for your baby. This way you get to conserve your energy and more sleeping time.

– Employ a relative or simply hire a nanny to care for your baby during the day.

– Hire a cleaner to do house chores.

– Do not leave out your visiting friends and good neighbours; they would not mind cuddling your contented little one for some minutes while you use the bathroom.

• While your baby sleeps; catch some zzzzz’s too!
The fairly common advice that you should sleep when your baby sleeps is a wise one to follow when you are home alone with your baby.
– If you have a toddler with erratic afternoon nap-times, you should try to get your timing right so you can take their nap-times as your chance to rest rather than rushing frantically to get everything else done before they wake.

– Even when your older children absolutely refuse to sleep during the day you can still wisely enforce a quiet period on everyone; including yourself. Even if you don’t sleep during this time you may recline on the bed with a novel and put your feet up. Uphold this and everyone gets re-energized before dinner and bedtime rites begin later in the day.

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• Breastfeeding; Please continue!
If you are breastfeeding your baby, don’t stop. Research has shown that breast milk is some sort of a sleep tonic for both baby and mother and that breastfeeding mothers get approximately 40 minutes more sleep per night than mothers who feed their baby formula.

• Rest while you bottle-feed

Simply make yourself comfortable on a chair, hold your baby close to your chest and let feeding time be the peaceful recess you crave for.

• Go to bed earlier
If your baby falls asleep immediately after dinner, turn off the TV and head off to bed with your baby. This time of the day is best used for sleeping and not for continuing the housework.
– When you go to bed earlier you get more sleep; provided you switch off your phone and resist the temptation to visit social media sites during this time as you could end up spending an hour or two of precious sleep time on social media.

When a mother looks after herself; she can better care for her baby so be gentle with and on yourself and be realistic as you adapt to the temporary changes in your life which nursing an infant brings about.