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Thursday, March 21, 2013

The Pressure to Sleep

When you are pregnant everyone and I mean everyone tells you what to do. The biggest to do was "sleep now". I hated hearing this because it wasn't like I gave up sleep like I did alcohol when I got pregnant. I never understood it until I had a baby. I still think it makes no sense. Sleep doesn't work like a savings account. What I think they meant and what I am telling all soon-to-be moms is when you have a good nights sleep acknowledge it. Appreciate it. Celebrate it even. Once baby is here sleep will never be the same. Let me explain.
1. You get the mom ear. Even when you do sleep you will always have one ear busy listening for the cry of your baby. We also have one of those alarms that goes off when Jack stops breathing and hearing that thing go off at 3 am is a huge adrenaline rush (now I don't panic as badly because he is always fine- those things are kind of a pain).
2. You suddenly can't sleep because of all the horrible Life Time movies you watched. Someone stealing my baby freaks my brain out. Or the house catching on fire. Or basically any thing that has ever happened on one of those movies.
3. To do list brain credit roll. I had it before baby but now that I have a baby it is much worse. My to dos actually run like movie credits in my mind. I use to could pop a Tylenol PM and go to dreamland but now I am too nervous I'll sleep too hard and not hear Jack.
4. Sleep now issue. As soon as Jack is down for the night I feel like I have to go to sleep right then because he may sleep an hour or two or four. It is a lot of pressure to go to sleep as quickly as possible.
5. Sleep when the baby sleeps pressure. Oh my husband and I butted heads on this one a lot. Still kinda do. So people say sleep when the baby sleeps.
A. If you can fall asleep quickly great for you. I just can't. It takes me at least 30 minutes to even get near sleep and my body just isn't a great napper. I could be running on almost no sleep and still not fall asleep during the day. This is especially true when you could easily be awaken any second.
B. If you slept every time the baby slept you would get little done and zero me time. Jack's naps was my time to do laundry, dishes, shower, blog, call a friend, or cook. You may have one of those amazing low maintenance babies but you might have a high needs baby who freaks out when he is put down (from day one). I told my mom he either really loves me and can't get enough or he hates me.


It is 3:45 am and Jack is up partying so I write to keep myself awake and to spread the word to soon to be moms that when you sleep well to really love and appreciate it-your sleep days are numbered!

10 comments :

  1. I have a good friend that is pregnant, and I keep telling her to sleep!! After 3 years of having our daughter, I STILL don't get a good night's sleep! I think sleep as we know it is over! ha ha!
    Newest follower from the blog hop. Come visit my blog and say hi!
    ♥ Kyna
    http://greatexpectations-kyna.blogspot.com/

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    1. Thanks so much for following me-I'm now following back. I think you are right, sleep is forever over. Even as they get older I believe we will be worrying about them.

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  2. I really think this post describe how I will be!!! lol Like Kyna, I have a friend of mine that is pregnant and I tell her the same thing! Sleep while you can! Following from the Blog Hop. Come say hi!!

    http://anythingonmymindpr.blogspot.com/

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    1. Thanks so much for stopping by! I'm following you back!

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  3. Sleep? Sleep? Hmmmm.....I don't remember what that is.

    I could have written this post myself, seriously. I can't fall asleep quickly. Never have and it hasn't changed. I still like to take naps when I go visit my mom for the day. Uninterrupted sleep = priceless.

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    1. I'm the same way. When I go to my moms I can take a nap because I know Jack is taken care of. Since I'm not at home I don't have the pressure to be up doing something productive. Apparently I do my best writing at 3:30 am.

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    2. Violet has been asleep since 9 and it is almost 12:30 here and I am still awake. Argh.....

      Thanks for sharing your favorite post at Raising Imperfection! We feature our favorites on Friday, make sure to come back and check.
      Leslie

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  4. Hi! Followed you over from Nanny to Mommy blog hop. I seriously LOVE what you wrote. I have a 16 month old and at 16 months and *mostly* sleeping the night I still don't sleep like I did before having my daughter. I do remember everyone saying "sleep now while you can" and being annoyed by that statement, but then I totally understood it after I had Rylee and wish I had appreciated my sleep more, instead of taking it for granted. I could have written this myself, and like you I am not really a napper and rarely (can count on one hand) napped when she napped because like you said if I did that when would anything get done or when would I have time to myself? Your son is adorable! Following you via GFC : )

    Jackie
    www.thenonmarthamomma.com

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    1. Thank you so much for your wonderful comment. It made my day that you enjoyed something I wrote. I'm following you back. Great to meet you!

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  5. I refuse to give pregnant women advice on anything. It's always a catch 22 ... your little man is too cute!

    Thank you for linking to Raising Imperfection.
    Please come back Friday to see if you were featured. :)

    ¤´¨)
    ¸.•*´
    (¸¤ Lanaya | xoxo
    www.raising-reagan.com

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