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The truth is all parents will experience a lack of sleep when bringing up their baby. Although unpleasant, it's common for parents to feel bone-tired, especially during the early stages of parenthood. Typically, the peak of sleep deprivation hits during the first three months after a baby is born.
Try not to worry though, it does get better and doesn't last forever. Dealing with a lack of sleep is undoubtedly hard, but you're tough and you'll get through it. We're here to run through what sleep deprivation is, how much sleep parents realistically get, and how to cope with sleep deprivation.
Adults are recommended to get seven to nine hours of sleep per night. Put simply, sleep deprivation is when you don't get the right amount of sleep you need, and your body's natural circadian rhythm (the internal 24-hour rhythm which regulates sleeping and waking) is disrupted.
It's very common and can be a short-term issue over one or a few nights, or it can be a chronic concern that lasts for weeks or even months. For parents, it's common for disturbed sleep to be caused by night feeds and other disturbances from their new baby during the night.
The side effects of sleep deprivation and broken sleep after having a baby can vary from one parent to the next, but they commonly include:
It's common for everything to feel harder when you're short of sleep. If you're struggling to cope with the symptoms of sleep deprivation, don't hesitate to reach out to your GP or health visitor for advice and support. They will be able to figure out if what you're experiencing is part of normal postpartum fatigue or something requiring medical attention.
"The truth is, I feel like sleep is a distant memory! When you're a baby's parent, there just isn't much sleep. I think the first two weeks after your baby arrives are a blur. It's almost like having jet leg because you're up at such random hours and everything seems a little foggy. I miss continuous sleep. I didn't sleep much through my pregnancy because I was up going to the loo what felt like every two seconds. And then once my baby arrived, I was in a constant cycle of sleep, wake, feed, change, repeat." — Danielle
"Tiredness can really affect your relationship. Because you're both exhausted, you're short with each other and a lot of things can get lost in translation. Lack of sleep can really make things hard, so we've chosen to focus on communication in our relationship because we know that if we're both tired, it's easy to fall out over the smallest of things." — Sarah and Laura
"Before we became parents, we were often told to prepare to never sleep again! But the truth is, your journey is your journey. You may get woken up all the time, or you may find a good balance. It just depends on the baby." — Jessa and Jaryd
You're tough, so you can probably manage disturbed nights with your baby. But if you're feeling low and are struggling to cope, it's important you find a way to get more rest. The following tips may help.
Many new parents grow to loathe the phrase "sleep when the baby sleeps". That said, getting some rest while your baby naps is good advice if you can manage it! If you're concerned about oversleeping during the day, you can always set an alarm, and even a nap that's 10 or 20 minutes long can help you to feel recharged.
If you can't sleep while your little one naps, try to use the time to rest and have a calming bath or put your feet up and lounge on the sofa while watching an episode of your favourite series. The housework and other errands can wait!
You could also give five to 10 minutes of deep relaxation a go. There are lots of breathing techniques out there that may help refresh you when you're feeling sleep deprived, and you can learn them online or in dedicated books.
When they're first born, you may struggle to get a grasp of their sleep cycle. But as they grow, they'll sleep for longer periods. And remember, the time when they wake multiple times throughout the night won't last forever.
You should never feel afraid to ask your close friends, trusted neighbours, and family members for help when you need some sleep or alone time. Remember to communicate your needs with your partner and make sure that you share responsibilities evenly.
If you're struggling to cope with a lack of sleep, you shouldn't hesitate to talk to your family doctor or health visitor. During this difficult time, you may feel like you're alone, but don't worry, you never are! The following resources are available to support sleep-deprived parents:
This point is crucial. If you have a partner to share night feeds with, one of you can feed the baby, while the other catches up on some much-needed sleep.
If you're bottle feeding, you can simply take turns with giving the feeds. And if you're breastfeeding, they can help with changing nappies or dressing the baby in the morning so you can have a well-deserved lie-in. When you've got into the swing of your breastfeeding routine, your partner can occasionally give the baby a bottle of expressed breast milk.
Sometimes difficulty sleeping or constantly feeling tired could be a sign of postnatal depression. Not enjoying the things that you normally do and felling low can also be symptoms to look out for.
If you're concerned that you may be suffering from depression, talk to those close to you or contact your health visitor or doctor for support. Don't hesitate, the sooner you reach out, the sooner you can get the support you need.
Nowadays, most supermarkets offer online ordering and home delivery. Using these handy services is a great way to avoid the stress of the weekly shop and to make some time for a mid-day snooze.
Bright light and the blue glow of electronic devices too close to bedtime can disrupt your body's natural sleep-wake functions and can interfere with your circadian rhythm. So, it's a good idea to avoid using electronic devices for an hour or more before bed if possible.
Jumping in the shower right away once you wake up while your partner cares for your little one will help you to feel invigorated, refreshed, and ready to take on the day.
If this content reminds you of your own experiences or makes you think of someone you know and you feel concerned or uncomfortable, please head to our support page for information about perinatal mental health resources that may be able to help.
