5 Top Sleeping Aids for the Breastfeeding Mom
Pregnancy can be a hard time for pregnant women, especially if it is your first. However, no matter how trying pregnancy is, it is nowhere near as tasking as those first few weeks when your baby arrive. That time of your life can feel like a tornado went through your life and home, disrupting the balance and every semblance of order you’ve previously known
Babies require a lot of attention and affection and for the next 1,000 days of next life, you’d have to make them your priority as you try to meet their every needs.
Newborns sleep a lot, about 16 – 18 hours daily, but before you go rejoicing thinking these long stretched hours will give you ample time to flex or watch the latest release on Netflix, you should know these hours of sleep don’t happen at a stretch. Babies sleep for fits of 45 minutes to two hours and then wake, usually for a feed or for a change of diaper before you’ve even had the time to stretch your tired bones or have your bath for the day.
This leaves new parents sleep-deprived and exhausted. 59% of new parents get less than the eight hours recommended sleep and moms are the worst hit since they have to wake up at intervals all through the night to breastfeed the baby. It’s especially worse if you are bottle-feeding as you’d need to make the trip to the kitchen to get hot water and other supplies needed for the feed.
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From research, babies wake up an average of three times each night and for some babies, it can take a while for them to go back to sleep, leaving the mom awake as she paces with the baby, trying to get her to go back to sleep.
Since no one can function optimally when sleep-deprived for such a long time, not to mention the fact that your overall health is placed at risk from this sleep deprivation, it is to the new parents’ benefits to get the baby to sleep more and to also try to get enough sleep themselves.
How to Get Your Baby to Sleep
Getting your baby to fall aback asleep is a practice that can be learnt over time. Here are some proven and trusted ways to do so:
1.Give a bottle of warm milk just before the baby’s nap time. Since your baby will already have a sleep schedule, you can have a bottle of warm milk ready during this time as this has been known to calm and sooth babies to sleep.
2.Gently rock your baby to sleep, either in a rocking chair or by pacing around the room. The gentle rocking motion will again lure your baby to a sound sleep.
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3.Make use of a pacifier as these have not just been known to help babies fall asleep, but also greatly reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
4.A warm bath boost circulation and also releases toxins from the system and this can make your baby fall asleep faster.
5.Singing to your baby, especially done by the mom, has also been known to lure babies to sleep.
6.Give your baby a gentle massage which boosts circulation in babies, and which can help baby fall asleep faster.
How to Get More Sleep (for You, the Breastfeeding Mom)
Since you are the worse hit from the arrival of the baby, it is important you work out a plan where you can get adequate sleep. As earlier said, your health depends on it and you’d also have to be at your best to fully take care of your baby’s needs. Some ways to get more sleep include:
1.Sync your sleep time with your baby’s. Follow your baby’s time table and try to catch some sleep when she does, even if it’s just for 30 minutes. You’d be amazed at how refreshed you’d feel afterwards.
2.Put your baby’s crib or bassinet next to your bed, that way you don’t have to go all the way to the nursery every two hours and can catch up on more precious sleep.
3.Get a flask and fill with boiled water to be put by your bedside. Also put your baby’s feeding supplies close to you so you don’t have to go all the way to the kitchen.
4.Put words out (subtlely) that you and baby need more rest so guests know to keep their visits really short.
5.Enlist help either from your partner or anyone else willing to assist while you catch some sleep. When sleeping, finding a quiet place, one where you won’t be interrupted. If you still find it hard to sleep, take some sleeping pills, ones fit for a nursing mother will be of help.
A good brand you can take is Luna.
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- Luna is a sleep aid is made from naturally sourced, scientifically backed ingredients that are non-habit forming and will encourage a healthy and balanced sleep, which makes it ideal for nursing mothers.
- It also contains amino acid found in green tea; GABA is a neurotransmitter produced by the body but also found in some fermented foods. Both of these ingredients are included in LUNA to help support healthy sleep habits and promote relaxation.
- LUNA Gentle Sleep Aid contains melatonin, valerian root extract, chamomile, lemon balm, and other allergy-friendly ingredients that support healthy sleep patterns and promote a restful state for bedtime. The expert-formulated sleeping complex is proudly non-GMO, cruelty-free and made with love in a GMP certified facility in the US
6.Don’t try to be the perfect parent at this time. Taking care of a newborn is enough work without you having to fit in house chores, cooking and other activities. Do the best you best, but be sure to leave enough time for adequate rest. Your health and the wellbeing of your new baby should come first.
Tag: Sleeping aids for breastfeeding mom, best practice for breastfeeding mom
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