New MothersNew Mothers

Pregnancy and new motherhood can make it difficult to get any sleep at all, never mind the kind of superior sleep that Speed Sleep delivers. Furthermore, the ability to take a quick rejuvenating nap at any time can actually make you a more capable and attentive mother or father. In any case new parents need to be able to get some sleep whenever their baby does, and with Speed Sleep, they definitely can.

Adjusting to the role of mom is hard. When you add the stress of sleep deprivation it can be overwhelming.

"Scientists tell us that a lack of sleep for 24 hours or more can make us short-tempered and irrational. It can decrease our decision making capabilities and become one of the most challenging components in the parenting process" says Sandra Sergeant, RN

How can a new mother cope?

Power naps can offer moms an opportunity for a dramatic recovery. And, when the mother is well-rested the bonding process is enhanced and begins the process for a positive relationship between mother and baby.

- from Sleep Deprivation and the New Mom by Andrea Obetan

12 Ways for New Parents to Get More Rest:

    • Don’t try to catch up on chores while the baby is sleeping. Instead take a nap.
    • Ask your husband or another family member to watch the baby while you nap.
    • While trying to nap resist the urge to peek at the clock. This can cause anxiety and lead to insomnia.
    • Avoid caffeine, alcohol and nicotine.
    • Avoid exercising close to bedtime.
    • If nursing, learn how to feed your baby while lying on your side.
    • If you use formula have bottles of room-temperature water and powdered formula near your baby’s crib or at your bedside.
    • Consider putting the baby’s crib or bassinet next to your bed.
    • Working parents should take a nap at lunchtime. One mother decided to nap in her car at lunchtime and eat at her desk afterward.
    •  Limit the number of visitors you have that first few weeks after the baby is born. Too much company can take away from important rest and bonding time.
    •  Take turns with your spouse or family member. Get help with nighttime feedings even if the help is only to put the baby to your breast and stay to watch you both till the baby can be put safely back in his crib.
    •  If possible have someone clean your house weekly. This will let you feel less pressured when you try to rest during the day.

    9 Sleep Questions for Parents:

    1. Does your child have trouble going to bed or falling asleep?
    2. Is it hard for your child to get up in the morning?
    3. Is your child sleepy during the day?
    4. Is your child overtired? Sometimes this manifests as “hyper”, “over-emotional”,
      “out of it” or moody.
    5. Does your child wake up at night?
    6. Is there anything that interrupts your child’s sleep?
    7. What time does your child go to bed and get up on weekends?
    8. How many hours does your child sleep when you don’t wake him?
    9. Does your child snore?

    Be sure to talk with your child’s doctor if you answered yes to two or more of the above questions.

    Frequent travel can wear down even the most seasoned traveler. One way to recharge your battery is with sleep, but sleeping on a plane can be difficult. A little preparation goes a long way in getting the best rest possible.

    Sometimes falling and staying asleep are the main problems. It can help to create a cocoon, both mentally and physically. An eye mask (write the words “Do not disturb” on it), some earplugs, a pillow and a blanket will help you to shut out the rest of the world. Make yourself comfortable before take-off so that you can fall asleep immediately.

    Sleep aids are not a good idea when flying. It is hard to predict how they will act in relation to jet lag and altitude changes.

    --from Puget Sound Business Journal/ April 20, 2001

    Mothers who reported sleeping five hours or less per day when their babies were six months old had a threefold higher risk for substantial weight retention (11 pounds or more) at their baby’s first birthday than moms who slept seven hours per day, according to a new study by Kaiser Permanente and Harvard Medical School.

    The study, published in the November issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology, is the first to look at the impact of sleep deprivation on postpartum weight retention. Previous studies have looked at the effect of early postpartum sleep deprivation on mothers’ cognitive and emotional health but never associated weight gain.

    “We’ve known for some time that sleep deprivation is associated with weight gain and obesity in the general population, but this study shows that getting enough sleep – even just two hours more – may be as important as a healthy diet and exercise for new mothers to return to their pre-pregnancy weight,” said Erica P. Gunderson, PhD, author of the study.

    --from Ascribe Higher Education News Service / November 19, 2007