Sleep Deprivation and The New Mom

Adjusting to the new role of “mom” is hard enough. So what happens when you add the stress of sleep deprivation?
"Scientists tell us that a lack of sleep for 24 hours or more can make us short-tempered and irrational. It can decrease our decision-making capabilities and become one of the most challenging components in the parenting process," says Sandra Sergeant, R.N, executive director of the Infant Care Program a division of Caring Solutions.
How does the new mother cope? What can she do to care for her newborn and herself coupled with the added stress caused by lack of sleep?

1. Sleep when the baby sleeps. "Power naps can offer moms an opportunity for a dramatic recovery. And, when the mother is well-rested the bonding process is enhanced and begins the process for a positive relationship between mother and baby. Bonding in the first few months is of vital importance in the developmental stages of a newborn."
   
2. Ask for help. New moms seem to think they have to do it all, but that’s not a good idea, according to Sergeant. "Moms need to develop and use a support system, especially at this time in their lives. Whether it’s family, friends, or an outside provider, a support system gives them some respite from the 24-hour job of being a new mom. In the past, mothers, aunts and sisters just naturally helped in providing care for the new addition, so mothers didn’t have to ask for help. It was the way the extended family worked. But, the days when family members lived close by and expected to participate in raising each other's children are gone. Many miles now separate families. New moms have to build alternative networks with friends or professionals caregivers."
   
3. Arrange for help before the baby is born. Pregnancy is the best time to determine who's going to take over some of the care and allow the mom to sleep. If it's an outside resource, check your insurance carrier for coverage, since some policies will pay for some or all of this kind of help. "By making those arrangements ahead of time, mothers will have the opportunity to rest and recover and enjoy their babies when they come home from the hospital. This will help both mom and dad to make the transition into their new roles as parents," says Sergeant.
   
4. Make sure help arrives early. Getting help during the first few weeks is especially important because adequate rest supports a quicker recovery process from labor and delivery.

Editorial provided by Andrea Obston, Marketing Communications for Infant Care Program, a division of Caring Solutions, a home health care provider.