Sleep with a newborn

[mandspice]

I'm due in 8 weeks and getting quite tired now but I guess this is nothing compared to how tired I'll be when my little bundle of joy arrives!

I'm a light sleeper and if I get woken up often find it hard to go back to sleep - I really want to enjoy baby's first few weeks and not feel like the grumpy old cow I usually am when I have little sleep!I imagine for the first few nights I'll just be awake staring at him and in awe but after that I hope to get a little kip....

Anyone else like this pre-baby and how did you manage with the constant waking....or do you just get so tired that when you do get the chance to sleep you nod off easily?

Tiredness I guess just becomes how it is for a while really in most cases. If you plan to breastfeed at all, that will help you sleep as it releases a hormone that sends you to sleep. I used to fall asleep while feeding dd2 all the time, so I would lie on the bed with her lying next to me so I wouldn't have to wake and move, I could just stay asleep.

With dd1, I was just tired all the time, I would get some naps in the day here and there but never enough.

Sorry, but you will be fine anyway I'm sure!! Supportive partners help if you have one, they should be prepared to take fair share on lack of sleep I think.

everything changes after the birth
everything
including your sleeping habits/abilities

you may find you cope better than you think - I have discovered that so long as I get enough sleep I don't mind if it comes in little chunks, whereas DH can't deal with the interruptions and prefers to stay up late and get up early but get an unbroken 4h.

If you can get the hang of bfing lying down this can make a big difference, ditto cosleeping.

Do bear in mind that the first 6 wks will be absolute madness however much/little sleep you get, so don't worry if your brain feels like mush and can't do anything taxing. A day when you shower and clean your teeth is a good day .