Tips for surviving the sleep deprivation

[newmum1212]

I have an almost 3 week old and am SO tired, some days I can't think straight. I do sometimes nap when she's napping but it doesn't seem to make much of a difference. I've always struggled with being woken up mid sleep, it makes me exhausted for the rest of the day.

Is there anything I can take or eat for an energy boost to not feel so terrible?

Rest, nap when they nap which you are doing. No harm taking berocca boost

I hear you tho. 3 under 4. Youngest is horrific sleeper. I survive on coffee and wine
X

Hats of to you! I feel like I'm struggling with just 1.

Get your priorities right. Brush your teeth twice a day, shower once a day, eat, and drink lots especially if your breast feeding. Food shopping, cooking, laundry, min cleaning can be done by your partner. If you can get out for walk or a sit in the garden fantastic but sleeps comes first.

I wish there was a magic trick but try to eat well, drink lots of water, sleep when you can and don’t expect too much of yourself. Things will start coming back together in time but right now just focus on the necessities.

Make sure you are eating and have a shower every day - it makes you feel so much better!

Nap during the day when they are if possible, appreciate everyone says that!

Lower your standards as far as doing things or housework slightly, sleep is more important.

Oh and good, strong coffee.

If you can’t nap when your LO is napping, try a bit of yoga instead. You won’t feel like it at first, but afterwards you’ll feel so good - it always leaves me relaxed and energised.
Try and get out for a walk with LO in the pram. Even though exercise may be the last thing you feel like doing, it will get your blood flowing and energise your body, which will make you feel less tired.
Eat regular small meals and healthy snacks every three to four hours through the day is better than a couple of big meals.
Take multi vitamins with extra iron.
Make sure that the little sleep that you actually DO get is good quality. Try and get into a consistent schedule.
Strong coffee isn’t the answer - it will make it even harder for you to sleep and cause energy slumps/headaches. Also, too much isn’t good if you’re breastfeeding.

Sleep when the baby sleeps.

If your FF, operate in shifts with partner, so you can get a decent chunk of unbroken sleep.

Ahhh I have a 3 week old as well (plus a toddler). Yeh it's hard isn't it! My husband and I have managed by going to bed mega early, like 10pm. Then when the baby wakes for a night feed, I do the feed, hand him over to my husband and he settles him back in his crib. Are you breastfeeding? I find that breastfeeding makes napping during the day especially hard as every time I leave him with my husband and go for a nap, the baby wakes up and wants feeding pretty much immediately! 🙈 Honestly though, it does get better pretty quickly.

Oh and you asked about things to eat... the first few days I ate loadsnod sugary stuff, even a mars bar in the middle of the night etc 🙈 But for the past week I've been eating really well and am feeling like I've got so much more energy. Egg frittata for breakfast (save half for the next day), lots of meat, fish, veggies and fruit... save whatever I cook for next day or freeze it... I really think it's helping my energy levels!

If you find it difficult to drop off when baby is napping (and thus waste precious sleep minutes!), try a guided sleep meditation on YouTube. It might help you fall asleep more quickly!
Other than that all you can really do is power on through.

It’s sooo hard. I have an 8 week old and by 3/4 weeks has gone basically Insane.
My only advice. Try not to look at the clock or count how many hours you got. It’s too depressing! And for me when I just came to conclusion there is no night and day just time I felt better. It didn’t help me nap as such but meant I could consider anytime as sleep time. Will get bettter x

I'm currently bf my 5 week old dd2. I take 2 big bottles of water to bed and make sure I drink them while she's feeding. I eat oatcakes as my snack to help milk supply (oats are good for milk apparently) but also for slow release energy. During the day, I can't nap (dd1 is 2.5) but I do drink shed loads of water but probably too much tea!

When dd2 was cluster feeding at night, I fed as much as i could lying down which meant I could at least doze. I also keep a bottle of facial mist next to my bed for when I struggle to keep my eyes open.

It's tough, but it will pass! I find the second time round a bit easier as I know it's only temporary and (maybe a bit weirdly) I actually enjoy the quiet time me and dd2 get together at night now!

I've got an 11 week old. You'd have thought 11 years of shift work would have prepared me for sleep deprivation but nope!

Massively echo the pp with water water water. I'm breastfeeding so I'm also thirsty anyway but it does make me feel better. I started on sugary snacks (hairbo!) and now have smoothies/flapjacks or cereal bars (I'm dairy free which means I have to think a bit more about what I've got to eat)

If you can't sleep try just resting. If baby is asleep and safe lay on the sofa and try and chill out you never know you might drop off to sleep. I sometimes find resting makes me feel better more so than a sleep.

Massively lower expectations housework isn't done anywhere near as often as before baby, my daily priorities are I shower, brush teeth and brush hair. Housework can wait. Sometimes a breath of fresh air is just what you need as well. If you're recovering from a c section little walks are really good to help I started with literally walking to the end of my road (100 metres maybe just over)

I also weirdly love the night feeds it is so quiet and just me and her awake snuggled up for a feed. Enjoy it ❤️