Becoming a mum is a beautiful journey women embark on. The excitement leading up to the due date, the joy when you hold your newborn for the first time, and that new baby smell is something out of this world.
The reality for some women, though, is that those first few months are exhausting. The lack of sleep can lead to new mums feeling unwell, physically, mentally and emotionally. This isn’t the case for everyone; My firstborn was actually a great sleeper.
My second born, on the other hand, was far from that. She cried for what felt like hours at bedtime, to a point where most of the time I gave in and joined her. She used to wake up so many times during the night that I used to lose count, and come morning I had little to no energy left to take care of two children, let alone clean, cook and take the time to take care of myself. This went on for five months. At this point, something clicked. See, when I was a baby myself, I was also a bad sleeper. My parents had sleepless nights for two whole years (I believe my daughter was my karma!). I refused to let this happen. I felt myself getting weaker, and I needed to take care of my mental health, not just for me, but for my children. I started doing some research, but that wasn’t enough as I tend to go all in on anything I do, which is what led me to study paediatric sleep science.
When my little one was five months old, I used my studies to sleep-train her, and it was the best decision I could have made. Sleepless nights had really taken a toll on my health, and I started feeling more and more like myself once she started sleeping through the night.
I’ve heard this being said to pregnant women time and time again, “Sleep now because when the baby comes, you can say goodbye to a good night’s sleep”. While that may be true for some, I will also add a continuation to that quote – “But take a deep breath, mama, there are solutions.”
While it’s not recommended to sleep train a newborn, introducing healthy sleep habits from the start can work wonders. If, at four months, you’re still going through nighttime struggles, then teaching your little one the skill of independent sleep will result in you waking up feeling well-rested in the morning. And most importantly, ask for help! If you feel you’re too weak to do day-to-day tasks, ask for someone you trust to take care of your newborn while you have a nap. Us mums sometimes feel like we have to do it alone, but I can assure you that those who love you will jump at the opportunity to help you out.
Remember that lack of sleep can cause you to have trouble managing your emotions, lack of concentration, and increased stress, while also impacting your physical health. You need to take care of yourself to be able to take care of your little bundle of joy, and having good quality sleep will help you feel like your best self.
Rebecca Galea is the marketing and web design expert for the Women for Women Foundation. She’s a single mum of two and has always been passionate about empowering and helping women in any way she can.
