How to still look good when sleep deprived

[Poppybella2015]

I used to get told I was attractive pre children, I was a slim size 6, long blonde hair, perfect make up, dressed smart. Now I am a size 12 which looks dumpy on my 5 foot 2 inch frame, I am pale have cellulite stretch marks c section overhang, my hair started falling out after dc 2 so I've had it cut to shoulder length and just have a few highlights instead of full head blonde, it looks very thin and greasy and dull. I never have time for make up, I don't look after my skin anymore it's so dry. I don't style my hair I tie it back in a pony tail that looks greasy. I have not had a full nights sleep for 6 years which makes me too knackered to even shower most mornings, too tired to clean my teeth before bed. So I have gone from being immaculate and slim to being dumpy with a lack of personal hygiene. I keep trying to make an effort as I feel depressed with the way I look but I keep failing as I'm too tired. I just eat biscuits all day to keep me awake :( is there any hope? Where do I start?

Well done

Thank you twinklestar2

Do you have an iPad or similar that you could watch TV on while in the bath via online players? Prop it up on a chair or something and shave during ad break? Might make it feel like less of a task

FWIW I give up on my legs during winter...

I occasionally put DS in a shallow bath with toys while I have a quick shower... Not sure if that's seen as safe or not but our shower is right next to bath and I always have my eye on him. Or have a bath/shower with them?? Take then swimming and have a shower after? Just a few ideas.

Re teeth cleaning, I bought some fancy nice tasting toothpaste and a nice new toothbrush and have found that helps with motivation.

Also, if you DO only clean them once a day it's better you do it at night.

I filed and painted my ragged nails last night and feel better for it, thanks to this thread.

Ah I'm so glad you filed and painted your nails last night. I'm glad this thread has motivated someone :) I like the iPad idea thank you! My aim for tonight is to either wash my hair or shave my legs! (Plus teeth clean)

If I'm stuck for time I throw my eldest into the bottom of the shower with me and a load of toys and she'll happily play for a bit while I wash my hair etc, then I wash her hair and while I jump out and get dressed she gets to play with the shower attachment and wash dolls etx. Might work for your littler one if eldest was washed and might entertain themselves for a bit. Means that at least I'm washed by the time they are in bed. My hair then airdrys and I straighten it before I crawl into bed

When mine were little I didn't sleep for a year! That's how it felt. I got hair cut short so it was always manageable, showered BEFORE bed and use dry shampoo if needed between weekly washes. Managed to slap on moisturiser at bed time. Used concealer In The day, ALWAYS eye liner and mascara to ensure I looked awake.

I walked a lot with baby in pram for exercise and to get him to sleep! I ate ok but drank a lot of coffee.

Didn't bother shaving under arms or legs.....it was winter, plus that stuff doesn't bother me. I do it. Ow though.

Marking place :)

Vitamin K deficiency exacerbates fatigue, so try having more rocket/broccoli/cauliflower.

If all else fails I find that a very high ponytail makes me feel more 'together' than a low one.

Could you try a mattress on the floor, either in your room or hers? I did that when mine were small (slept on their floor), and my friend had a ready bed for her DD.

I second the berocca it will really help. Also maybe buy some spatone it's a gentle iron supplement I really notice the difference to my energy levels when I'm organised enough to take it.
Be stricter with your co sleeper. In our house the kids can get in bed with me anytime but they must only sleep and are not allowed to kick me. Put a pillow in between. Get tough about this you need the sleep

What works best for me is trying to find ways to fit your own care alongside your kids' - e.g. taking them out for walks, brushing your teeth with them, using both hands when you put any moisturiser on their skin, getting a glass of water for you every time you get them a drink. Do you really need to cook separate food for them and for you, as it could save a lot of time and ensure you're having healthy food too?

Please may I join? I am 18 weeks pregnant with first DC and live on my own, although the baby's father is very involved and we hope to move in together when it feels right. I work (part time but as I'm a teacher it ends up being more like full time anyway) and have a dog and a cat at home.

Before I got pregnant I had started a routine of going to the gym every day and would walk with the dog for around five miles a day too. I had got a healthy eating routine and was happy and vibrant and healthy (so it felt!) This was after years of being over weight and eating badly and I had finally taken my body back under my control... was having my hair done every six weeks and invested in nice clothes to show off my new slender (ish) body, make up etc...

Got pregnant and have suffered morning sickness for the last 11 weeks and I feel disgusting. Put on nearly a stone in 7 weeks and struggle with tiredness etc. DP is working away and I haven't shaved my legs in seven weeks (or anywhere else) and I rarely remember to pluck my bear hairs, eyebrows or sort my moustache.

I am 28, 5 foot 7 and had got down to a dress size 12, albeit jeans were still a 14. I am scared shitless that I will go back to being a size 16 hair monster.

I recommend a multivitamin, I take one very day, in my experience it helps protect my immune system because otherwise I seem to constantly come down with one virus/cold/flu after the other but when I consistently take a multivitamin I tend to avoid being ill all the time.

By the way, if you do go down the route of supplements, make sure you speak to your pharmacist about what you're buying to make sure if you buy multiple things that they are all safe to take together and that. It is possible to take too much of certain vitamins and minerals to ill effect.

For showering, I have a very strict routine and I go really fast so it doesn't take long; get in and wash with bodywash, wash face with facewash, shampoo hair, towel dry, put on face cream, moisturise body, blow dry hair. I exfoliate in the shower once a week, and trim my pubic hair on a different shower once a week too. I shower every other day; on the non-shower days I just freshen up with babywipes, deoderant, and then dry shampoo my hair. Dunno if this will help anyone but there ya go. :)

This might be a stupid question but.. what is exfoliating and does it really work? How do you do it and what do you use? At the moment my shower routine is shampoo and condition hair (every other day now...always used to wash my hair daily but need the extra 20 minutes in bed in the mornings ) then wash with soap on my body. Have always just used water on my face and never really had spots.

Thanks for all the tips above, and hello to twllbach

I'm having a bad night, my oldest is ill and wide awake. I feel like when she is asleep I want to crawl into bed. I'm not going to get done what I wanted to tonight. I really need to force myself to clean my teeth and shower before bed though, it's nights like tonight where it all slips that then turn into weeks and months as there is always an excuse not to teeth clean or shower, sick child, teething toddler, I get ill myself etc. I really need to teeth clean and shower tonight even if I'm up late with dd, I can't use it as an excuse anymore

you sound depressed, OP. maybe chat with GP?

if you are constantly drained maybe bring this up as well. get your blood checked if anything is going on.

young kids can be hard work but the level.of exhaustion you describe doesn't quite sound normal to me. get yourself checked over

Well I did it. Dd is asleep and instead of crawling into bed I quickly jumped in the shower, cleaned teeth, used a cleanser and toner and slapped some face cream on. Now time to crawl into bed

Good for you Poppy! Hope your DC sleep.

chicadd1ct sometimes I do wonder if I'm depressed but I think I'm just totally exhausted. I haven't had a full nights sleep for 6 years and my partner works 5 night shifts a week so I have done all the nights for 6 years as I'm here on my own nearly every night. I've been alot more tired since having dd2 as there is two of them and only one of me and both are bad sleepers. It's hard to explain the level of tiredness but it's bad! Every night for 6 years I have been woken several times a night. I am envious of those who have good sleepers!

Thanks jibberjabberjooo

Well done.

Second the poster who says get checked out by the Dr though. It IS tiring having kids who don't sleep well etc but nearly 2 years after having my first DC I visited Dr as was still knackered despite getting reasonable sleep and it turned out I was anaemic.

That is if you feel it's not depression... Which can also caused tiredness etc

Oh no toddler is awake already, I didn't even make it into bed :(

I had issues with low iron/ferritin and was extremly tired last year. came out in blood tests and now much better.