We’re 2 months away from welcoming our second baby, and I can’t help to reminisce on what it felt like being a first-time mom. Looking back, I remember thinking how everything from breastfeeding to changing diapers was easier than I imagined, but the ONE THING I had a tough time adjusting to was the LACK OF SLEEP during the first month.
Throughout my pregnancy, people would say things like, “Get as much sleep as you can now!” or “Sleep when the baby sleeps.” But no one ever told me that I would be getting 2-3 hours of sleep straight and never a full night’s sleep for at least a month.
Newborns feed every 3 hours and since I was exclusively breastfeeding, it took about 40 minutes to nurse, so by the time I put my son down, I was technically only able to catch some Zzz’s for about 2.5 hours! To top it off, my husband injured his foot a week before our baby was born which bound him to a cast and crutches for an entire month and a half! Not to mention, I had a c-section, but I was determined to breastfeed exclusively. I remember feeling a strength from within that would wake me up every time Caleb woke up to feed and change him, especially during the night. Now, I can’t help to feel somewhat proud of myself and thankful to God for giving us women superwoman powers in times like those. But I wish someone would have warned me what it actually feels like to not get at least 6-7 hours of uninterrupted sleep. I literally felt like a walking zombie. Truth is, there is no way to prepare for that. You can’t accumulate sleep when you’re pregnant so even if you do “sleep as much as you can” now, it won’t make you feel fully rested when the baby arrives (though it does feel wonderful to sleep in and rest while pregnant).
However, once your baby starts to sleep straight through the night without a night-feed or dream-feed, boy that night will feel glorious! If you start adapting your baby on a nighttime routine starting at least week 4, your baby will start to sleep through the night in no time. Caleb kept sleeping an hour more through the night week after week and by the time he was only 2 months, he slept 8 hours consecutively! By the time he was 3 months, he slept 12 hours (uninterrupted sleep with NO night-feed!) and he continues to sleep straight through the night from 9pm to 9am (however, you can adjust you baby’s bedtime according to whatever time you wish i.e. 7pm to 7am). Check out my sample bedtime routine HERE.
Dear first-time moms: It is worth every sleepless night! It will be tough but it WILL go by sooner than you think. Simply endure and try to enjoy those moments of intimacy with your new bundle of joy.
Check out a few photos from this past weekend with the two loves of my life and my baby bump. (Floral print Maternity dress by ShopPinkBlush.com):
