Sleep Deprivation After Baby – What Not To Do!
Sleep can be a rare commodity after having a baby for young mothers and everyone tells you about things you should do to help with it. Instead, read our perspective on things you should not do which can further add to the sleep deprivation problem.
Sleep deprivation can be a serious problem for new mothers when the baby demands their entire attention while the work and home also needs some focus. It can become overwhelming for the mother to take care of everything by herself. Today we will discuss a few things which the mothers should not do to prevent further escalating the problem.
Things You Should Not do While Suffering From Sleep Deprivation
1) DO NOT watch television or use electronic devices (phone or tablet) at least an hour before bedtime because it can provide unnecessary stimulation and keep you awake
2) DO NOT take more caffeine than what is absolutely needed. Restrict intake to 1 cup a day because it can keep you awake while also impacting baby if you are breastfeeding.
3) DO NOT take up chores while baby is sleeping. Even if you don’t feel sleepy precisely at the same time, close your eyes and take a break.
4) DO NOT hesitate in taking help from others (father & family). Even if they are not as skilled as you in taking care of baby, they can provide very useful help which can give you time to relax.
5) DO NOT hesitate in taking time off from work or work at a reduced schedule. Have a discussion in your office and make sure that you don’t take up more work then what you can manage. Everybody will understand and give you a little room while you manage those initial hectic months with your newborn
6) DO NOT hesitate to avoid taking up additional responsibility. It is perfectly fine to skip those PTA meetings or events for your elder child during those first few months. Instead, have your partner take those additional responsibilities off your shoulder for some time.
7) DO NOT ignore signs of depression. Baby blues are very common among first time mothers and can cause additional sleep disorders which can make the sleep deprivation even more severe. Get the necessary help from a qualified medical practitioner if you feel you are suffering from a sleep disorder or depression.
Would you like to share any additional not to do’s with us ? Please let us know through your comments below.
