Congratulations! You may be pregnant or maybe you just had a baby (and lucky you if you have time to read this)! There is no feeling more incredible than when you have just had a baby. So why don’t you feel wonderful all the time?
Well, even the best events in life have stress attached to them. Having a baby is exciting for everyone. Visitors keep visiting practically from the moment of delivery. If you are a first-time mother, hospitals do not give you very much help or advice; they send you home with this new little creature with an array of demands you must interpret. Most new babies sleep little, at least not long enough to allow you to get some much-needed rest. What would you not give to have just a few minutes of uninterrupted sleep?
Rest Is Recovery
Add to that, the hormonal changes in your own body, and you have a formula that is guaranteed to be stressful. Sometimes, you think you will never get a full night’s sleep again. Until the baby settles into a routine, you probably will not! Is this how it is going to be until your baby starts to sleep through the night? Well, Yes! Unfortunately, that’s what babies do. The only solution is to find what works for you especially during those first few weeks, after coming home from the hospital.
To get through those first few weeks and months, here are a few tips to help you get at least a little more sleep.
“Sleep is like the unicorn – it is rumoured to exist, but I doubt I will see any.” – Unknown
3 Quick Tips For A Good Rest, Mother
1. Do not be a supermum.
When the baby goes down for a nap, take a small nap yourself. The laundry can wait and so can the dishes. If possible, dad can help with some of these tasks or ask grandma or even friends to help out.
Cleaning or doing the housework will only add to your exhaustion and stress and make you cranky. You need not have a perfect house. There will be time for all that; give yourself a break whenever you get the opportunity. Remember that your baby will be cranky, too if you are.
“Babies are always more trouble than you thought – and more wonderful.” – Charles Osgood
2. Accept any help from friends or family
If you have a good friend or relative to help, take advantage of that for an afternoon. Grandma would probably jump at the chance to have the baby all to herself for a few hours!
You could also search for a childcare agency that can provide newborn care so you can have that much-needed rest. Most childcare agencies do not offer this service because they are not trained or experienced to provide this type of service.
Our doula service will look after mum and baby, including giving mum time to sleep and wake up refreshed to face the next few hours in a happy mood.
3. Relax when your baby is finally asleep
When you put the baby to bed for the night, take some time to decompress and relax so you have a better chance of falling asleep. Take a bath scented with lavender; put on some soft music and baby yourself a little. Give dad some time to look after or spend some quality time with the baby so you can take that long and soothing soak.
Sometimes it is hard even without a new baby to fall asleep right away. There is a lot to get used to!
“Being a mum has made me so tired. And so happy. – Tina Fey
Book a service or message Safehaus UK directly from http://safehaus-uk.co.uk/ for more information about our professional childcare service.