In Search of Sleep
we know what moms what most! here are the ways to get it.
BY STACEY STAPLETON
Sleep deprivation is the battle scar of every new mom. It's impossible to avoid, starting in pregnancy and then getting serious when your newborn needs to eat every few hours. Hearing that women require at least seven hours of sleep a night to be at their best is not helpful to those who can't log four hours in a row. Studies show that just one hour of missed sleep decreases alertness the next day by up to 25 percent, but what are you supposed to do about it? Here, tips for improving the quality of the time you do spend in bed.
70% of adults don't get enough sleep.
Aromas such as lavender and chamomile induce sleep, so try placing a sachet or reed diffuser next to your bed (but never burn a candle).
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You're Not Alone
"Fatigue and sleep deprivation are normal for new moms," says James Smith, MD, clinical associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Lucille Packard Children's Hospital, in Stanford, California. Some other mammals, such as dolphins, have trouble sleeping after giving birth, too, Dr. Smith says, so even if our infants slept eight hours in a row, moms might still be wakeful. Fortunately, this is all temporary- though not temporary enough. You're in for weeks (or, honestly, months) of sleep disruption. Acceptance is half the battle; feeling bitter and resentful won't help you feel any more rested.
How Sleep Works
There's a five-stage sleep cycle, repeating throughout the night, that lasts from 90 to 110 minutes. Stage one is the lightest stage, when we're falling asleep. At stage two, brain waves slow and we drift into a deeper sleep. During stages three and four, we fall into the deepest and most restorative states. Brain waves slow to a crawl, and we're completely at rest. Finally we move into the REM (rapid eye movement) stage, in which our breathing becomes rapid and shallow, our heart rate drops, and our eyes move quickly. This is when we dream.
It's the deep sleep- stages three and four- that we need most, and if your infant happens to cry while you're in deep sleep, rousing yourself can feel like trying to escape from quicksand. There's no easy solution, but trading off nighttime duty with a spouse can help. You both emerge a little sleep deprived, but neither of you is completely shot! The other gold-standard advice: sleep when the baby sleeps. It might be hard to tune out your racing mind and lie down with baby for an afternoon nap, but it's worth a try. Experts say your body responds to sleep deprivation by moving into the deep-sleep stages even faster than it normally does.
next >> why rest is a big priority & 10 ways to sleep better tonight >>
