Tips for coping with tiredness

[neepsntatties]

I know everyone finds it hard to be tired but I think I am especially bad at coping with a lack of sleep.

I am pregnant at the moment so not getting enough sleep because of that and then DS decided that he was awake at 4:30. I have already snappped at him about three times and had to say sorry and cbeebies has been on since 8 because I am struggling to keep my eyes open. I also become more clumsy etc when I am tired so everything suddenly becomes difficult to do.

I am dreading the tiredness of new born, really got down with ds1.

Anyone found any good tricks for coping when you just haven't had enough sleep and there is nothing you can do about it?

[DrSpechemin]

Delegation helps - ask for help from family/friends if you are tired. Also don't put undue stress on high expectations of what you want to achieve. Also ask your dh to do all home related tasks - cooking/cleaning etc. He could also make you a packed lunch when your baby makes an appearance so you atleast get to eat a sandwich every day to keep your energy levels up.

Also a good diet and small amounts of exercise - even if just a 20 min walk every day will increase your feeling of wellbeing.

[Tee2072]

How old is DS? Can you lie on the sofa while he watches TV? Even 5 minutes can help.

[alphamummy]

the only thing i can really recommend is when newborn comes, is as soon as older one goes to bed at night you go to bed. even if you lay there feeding on and off your going to get a liitle bit of rest.

How old is ds? why was he up at 4.30 is this usual?

[neepsntatties]

Thanks, I am pretty isolated - far from family. Do have an aunt a town away so I know she will help out when she can although she has her own children. DH is as tired as I am, he is in his fourth year of his degree - he didn't come to bed until 4:30 last night as he was studying which is maybe what woke ds up.

I think I will just have to live in a mess and eat ready meals for a while.

[Simic]

Chocolate? :)

But, I agree with Dr Spechemin that getting out and distracting yourself helps. Meeting other people also helps me.

[neepsntatties]

x post - ds is three. He was sick yesterday and so slept a lot during the day. I think he is better now but maybe still not 100% so no that is thankfully unusual. I am usually at work too but I have been signed off because I am so exhausted (back on monday though boo hiss)

Yes am lying on the sofa feeling like a bad mummy for letting him watch so much tv.

[neepsntatties]

Chocolate indeed! I made dh go out in the snow for that the other day. No proper food but I was buggered if I was running out of chocolate!

[Threelittleducks]

Chocolate! Being super organised - meals ready and in fridge night before. Snacks and juice to hand. Bags made up. Change of clothes beside nappy and wipe box. Sleeping when they nap (if they nap). Toys on rotation so they don't get fed up. Lots of dvd's and no guilt! It's not forever and you do what you gotta do to cope! That's how i coped during difficult pg and now with 2 year old and newborn!

[Threelittleducks]

Oh and the best days for me are the ones where i went to bed very early the night before. Even if i don't slepp at least i am well-rested. I take a dvd, chocolate, water and just lie in bed. If i sleep it's a bonus!

[DrSpechemin]

Oh, and don't beat yourself up feeling like a 'bad mummy' for letting him watch tv - if he hasn't been well then watching tv is probably the best thing for him!

[hophophippidtyhop]

Have you been checked for anaemia lately? I was feeling very tired towards the end of my recent pregnancy, nodding off on the sofa in the afternoon, and it turned out I was a bit anaemic.

[homelyperson]

I am with a 3.5 week newborn and 2.7yo DS here...
Tips:

• Cbeebies as much as needed (I only try to stick to morning and late afternoon though)
  
• super easy meals (my top easy dinner now is frying fish fillet in a pan (10 mins) and serving with couscous (5 mins))
  
• sleeping with baby on your chest, at least you get some sleep
  
• washing your ears with cold water helps to wake up
  
• drinking a lot of tap water seem to help for me as well

[stillbobbysgirl]

Don't stand when you can sit
Don't sit when you can lie

Chocolate

Coffee

Sod the housework

Small, nutricious meals every 3 or 4 hours

Go to bed the minute the child is asleep - you will feel that you are living in twighlight toddler world - but you must follow the kids sleeping patterns for a while if you are going to get in 7 or 8 hours a night

[warthog]

all good advice. also catnapping on the sofa while dc's watching / playing.

just forget about keeping things neat and tidy. never turn down help. operate on a strictly necessary basis and don't apologise - this is the one time you can get away with it.

if you feel up to it, make food and freeze it for afterwards. ready meals ok, but do pall after a while. if friends phone up offering help, ask them to make you a lasagne or some such. most will be more than happy to oblige.

[schroedingersdodo]

I second the iron supplement suggestion. Take some - but not that rubbish Pregaday they give at NHS. It doesn't work and made me terribly constipated. Spatone works much better for me (though it's not cheap...). Ther's another liquid supplement I can't remember the name, but it gave me heartburn...

I also found that eating a fruit a day makes wonders for my energy levels, and it's an easy thing to do.

And drink loads and loads of water.

[PaulineMole]

yy to vitamins, and to chocolate

stock your freezer, whether with home-cooked food, or ready meals, so there is always something you can prepare and eat quickly and easily.

I've got a 3yo and a 5week baby. I go to bed when the baby does (8-9pmish), and this gets me through.

[ShanahansRevenge]

Drink plenty of water...sometimes dehydration really creeps up. Give DS a pie of pasta and rice and some pots and pans and plastic cups...let him go with it while you lie down

Have a bath or shower...makes you feel intantly better.

[Dexterrocks]

I have a six year old with sleep problems and have a 9 year old who used to have similar sleep problems so I haven't slept properly for about 10 years as I also couldn't sleep while pregnant.
I have found that keeping busy is better than chilling out. I know it sounds wrong but the more active I am the better I feel.
Try to arrange to meet others for coffee if you can get out. Make regular trips to the supermarket rather than getting one big delivery. Go for a walk every day. Try to do some active housework eg hoovering.
I agree that lots of water regularly really helps too.
I also agree that iron levels may be a problem - I felt particularly bad during my pregnancies and I was low on iron both times.
You may find you also have low blood pressure. Mine was low during my last pregnancy and it made everything I did like climbing Everest!
I collapse in a heap as soon as the kids are in bed but I manage to sustain a tiny glimmer of alertness up until then if I have a busy day.
Oh, and constant access to chocolate (and in my case Pepsi Max) is also essential - though maybe you should steer clear of the Pepsi Max during pregnancy!

[Fourleaf]

This is all great advice! I would second all of it- for me when pregnant resting was best, with a baby being active seemed to help more... Don't feel guiltly about whatever you need to do. I also found that instant healthy snacks like smoothies and cheapy sushi from supermarket perked me up! Also not fighting it mentally- just accepting you are tired seems to help :)

[GregoryPeck]

Is the other iron supp Floradix?

[Snowfalls108]

Was just about to say Floradix - I've got a 14 month old and I'm pg with twins - and I'm also completely knackered. I reckon the Floradix helps though!

[Dexterrocks]

What is Floradix?

[Mercedes519]

neeps, I can offer some light... With my now 11 week DC2 I have found I am less tired than when I was pregnant and working because now I can nap during the day when they sleep. And I generally have more energy than when I was massive and sleep much better when I am asleep.

I can suggest having lots of snacks handy, I found cereal bars good and make sure you have a bottle of water with you at all times so you don't get dehydrated.

[Mercedes519]

And CBeebies is highly educational...could be so much worse

[neepsntatties]

Thanks :). I am already on iron and have low blood pressure. Really need to be on mat leave (3weeks to go) and need dh to get this exam out of the way. He doesn't get why I feel so rubbish right now.

Great to hear that baby and toddler is easier than pregnant, working and toddler. At least I won't feel sick all the time once the baby is born.