There will be days when you bring the new
baby home that you think you’ll never get to sleep again. In the meantime, try
to get some rest and sleep whenever you can. The baby won’t be sleeping through
the night for several weeks, perhaps months. While she’s adjusting to the
schedule of night and day, you won’t be able to sleep through the night until
she does.
Until she’s sleeping through the night, try
to sleep when she sleeps. Many new mothers try to do everything at once, and start
cleaning or doing the laundry once the baby goes down for a nap. You’ll only
make yourself more tired if you try to be supermom.
If you can get some help in those first
weeks with the cleaning and laundry, by all means, do so. If you can have a
friend or relative in to watch the baby for an afternoon while you catch some
much-needed sleep, try to take advantage of that whenever you can.
When you have been so busy all day with new
baby chores and everything else you have to do to maintain a household, and
possibly take care of older siblings as well, it can be hard to wind down just
because everyone else is asleep.
Make some routines to help yourself unwind
at night. Take a warm bath – not too hot, hot water can be stimulating – and
play some relaxing music. Even if you’re not breastfeeding, avoid caffeine
throughout the day and especially at night. Drink water or de-caffeinated or
herbal tea. If foods that have a lot of preservatives or sodium can make you
jumpy, try to avoid those as much as possible.
Try to eat very natural foods, such as salads, green vegetables, fruits,
and warm healthy soups.
As soon as you’re able, try to get out and
walk for a little bit each day. The fresh air and moderate exercise will help
you and your baby feel relaxed and can help you get to sleep at night.
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