Sleep Deprivation

This is the dream-deprived topic that vexes most new parents. Sleep deprivation. It's pure torture and can lead to lots of unanticipated consequences, like arguing with your partner about who should get up, being irritable with older children/family/coworkers or anyone who you come in to contact with, including people in the grocery store who made the unfortunate mistake of leaving their cart parked in the middle of the aisle.  Don't they know I'm in a hurry?

Sleep deprivation is one of our most challenging issues as health care providers. It's a topic that my friend, Dr. Pec Indman, who co-wrote Beyond the Blues:  A Guide to Treating and Understanding Prenatal and Postpartum Depression, speaks about regularly. New moms are already on a roller coaster from the birth, the hormonal changes, trying to feed a crying newborn, and do all of this on 3-5 hours of sleep.  It's a recipe for disaster.

I'm a big advocate of naps. But, not everyone takes naps or is willing to even try to take a nap.  Let me plead with any new moms out there who are sleep deprived.  Get some eye shades, turn off the phone, and if your baby is sleeping, lie down, close your eyes.  You don't have to sleep, but try to get at least 20 minutes of rest.  It will help you continue to produce breastmilk if you're breastfeeding and will help you retain your sanity, no matter how you're feeding your baby.

Sleep, sleep, and more sleep. Grab any and every spare minute to rest, whenever you can.  You deserve it and need it just as much as your newborn does.