Posted by Danielle Bean in Health on Wednesday, October 15, 2008 7:00 AM
Good morning! How did you sleep last night? Not so good?
If so, you’re not alone. Moms are some of the most sleep-deprived people I know. Depending upon a mother’s stage in life, stress, pregnancy, babies, toddlers, teens, and hormones all can conspire to destroy her nightly rest.
Different people have different sleep requirements, but if you are a mom, chances are you aren’t catching enough Z’s, and lack of sleep can disrupt your concentration, increase irritability, and decrease your body’s ability to fight off illness.
While I can’t promise you that a toddler won’t crawl into your bed tonight, I can offer you some sleep tips to improve your chances for getting a decent night’s rest.
Pray.
You might be too bleary-eyed to focus on the mysteries of the Rosary, but you can put yourself in God’s presence and unite your suffering’s to Christ’s for the good of yourself, your family, or all souls.
I have spent some of my most peaceful, prayerful moments while rocking a sickly baby in the quiet of my darkened living room in the middle of the night. My house and my mind are rarely so peaceful, quiet, and still.
How about you? What are your tips for getting a good night’s sleep?
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I have a really hard time quieting my mind at night before falling asleep. Now I do sudoku puzzles until my eyes can’t stay open and then I fall asleep right away. I don’t even let myself thing about all the things I have to do the next day. I only solve those puzzles!
I never have insomnia except when I’m pregnant, when the least thing can jolt me awake and keep me up for hours. I just recently realized something that makes a difference: if I go to bed more tired, pushing bedtime back farther than it ought to be, I am much more likely to wake up and not be able to settle back down. Seems kind of backwards, since you’d think a tired-er person ought to be able to sleep, but I’ve noticed that overtired kids sleep more restlessly too.
So, Danielle, were you in my bedroom last night as I laid awake for four hours???? My theory on waking during pregnancy is that is gets me ready for night feedings--which I have to say I don’t mind (after child #4) for the very reason you stated--a good time for prayer.
On Wednesday mornings 5-6am my husband and I have an hour at the adoration chapel at the hospital in town. We rotate each week and it never fails, both my husband and I will toss and turn all night if it is our week. This morning I decided it is certainly the work of the devil! For when we get to the chapel we have a hard time staying awake! So I think from now on we need to concentrate on our St. Michael prayer with each other on Tuesday nights. Certainly that should help!
As I try to remind new moms---get your sleep! There is a reason sleep deprivation is used as a form of torture--and it is!
When I can’t seem to get back to sleep after the many “awakenings” that seem inevitable with a large family, I stretch while I pray. I began doing this with my first pregnancy because I had terrible charlie horses in my calves during the night. It helps me relax and makes falling back asleep a little easier.
After suffering from periodic hormonal insomnia for years, I finally went to the doctor and got some sleep meds about 2 years ago. What a difference it has made in my life. I can pinpoint when it hits (2 days before period), and knowing that I have some back up help, I don’t lie in bed freaking out because I can’t fall asleep. It’s the freaking out part that kept me awake. Then it would just snowball and before I’d know it, it would last for a couple of days, or stretch to a week without sleep. People who don’t have sleep problems don’t understand what a HUGE cross this is. So, go to a doctor and get some perscription meds if you’ve done everything Danielle has suggested and you still can’t sleep, or wake up in the middle of night and can’t get back to sleep, for hours and hours.
I take tylenol pm once in awhile to catch up what I can’t get other nights. The more tired you are the harder it is to sleep. So one good night can help turn things around if you are having problems.
Sleep study!! I had my MD refer me for a sleep study at a sleep center because I snore like there is no tomorrow. Sleep apnea contributes to unrestful sleep. I’m not the typical snorer as I am not overweight.
So my sleep apnea was diagnosed and sinceI have gotten treatment it has been very helpful for me and also my husband who had to listen to my noise all these years!!
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