Sleeping during pregnancy and after having a baby is a real challenge. After the arrival of your precious little one, there are so many things to do and take care of that you probably have no time for sleep at all. However, some sleep can be a great healer for both you and your baby. This article will give you some tips on how to get some sleep even after pregnancy and birth if you find it difficult. Sleep when your baby sleepsIt's very tempting to want to just sleep all day as soon as you have had the baby but this isn't going to help anyone out in the long run and probably will make everyone more tired than they need be. The best thing that you can do is take advantage of those small windows throughout the whole day where no one needs anything from me, I am not physically or emotionally ready for another task right now so let me get some rest while my body still lets me! Keep yourself relaxedIf last night was bad because mommy didn’t relax then maybe today she should try reading herself into a tranquil state before bedtime. Music or some good old-fashioned reading can be a great stress reliever and often will help you fall asleep easier without thinking about all the stressful things that happened during your day. Relaxation is key before bedtime! Avoid foods high in sugar and caffeine close to bedtimeIf eating an apple helps you sleep better at night then by all means, eat an apple! However, if you find that a banana makes your mind race and too much sugar or caffeine keeps you up at night then keep it light in the hours leading up to bedtime. Your body may feel great after eating a whole bag of chocolate chips but this feeling won’t last long when those chips hit your stomach and begin to digest. Change into comfortable clothingSome pajamas are cute and even sexy but don't put on those tight fitting, restricting clothes that can keep you up at night! If you feel better sleeping in nothing at all then take advantage of that. However, for most women, it’s a good idea to have something loose fitting and not too restricting while you're trying to sleep. Keep your bedtime rituals the sameIf you have a regular routine of relaxation before going to bed then keep that up! The last thing that you need right now is another thing to worry about or change. If reading for 30 minutes helps relax you into sleeping then read for 30 minutes every night. Keep your baby close byIf you think this is a good idea then go for it! But if you find that the sound of your baby breathing outside the door wakes you up at night then try using a white noise machine to mask out those sounds and keep yourself in a deep sleep state. Maintain an exercise routineIf you have been working out every day before the baby comes then keep up that routine! Exercise can be a great stress reliever and will help you fall asleep just as it did before. Do not fret about lost sleepThe reality is that there is no way to get back those nights where you were up nursing for hours on end or trying to get the baby to fall asleep. There is no amount of worrying that will help you heal from those lost nights so don’t allow them to keep you up at night. Nourish yourself as best as possibleAll this life with a newborn doesn’t mean that you should neglect your own well being! It is important to keep yourself well hydrated so that you do not get dehydrated. If you are breastfeeding then make sure to eat something even if your appetite has decreased. Most importantly, take care of yourself and be good to yourself while taking on this huge task of being a new mommy! Be patient with yourselfRemember that there is no reward for being an overachiever here. You will get to your goal eventually! There is no rush. Rushing things will only make the process take longer so be kind, love, cherish and admire yourself just as you do your new baby. The more time you allow to pass then it will be easier to stay positive and look back on this time as a great learning experience. Final WordsA lot of this will be difficult at first. It’s a huge change to our bodies and it takes some feeling out to see what works for us and what doesn't. But the sooner you get yourself into a good sleeping ritual the better off you will be!
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October 2020
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