Two weeks into the “recovery period” and wondering about the sleep thing. The problem for most of us somewhat ambitious “‘yes-I-have-a-life” women is that we want to do MORE than breastfeed and change diapers. So as much as we know getting some shut-eye would probably make sense if the baby has fallen asleep, a new entry to my blog seems even MORE appealing.

I wonder what drives us to do such unsensible things? Is it a strong desire to feel like we haven’t lost our old lives entirely? From a rational point of view, I know I should relax and enjoy this somewhat sleepy time in my life. But my Tanya side, the individual who still has an opinion and doesn’t want to be entirely governed by my daughter’s erratic schedule, also wants to shine through, even for a couple of minutes each day. Suddenly, sleep seems like a drag.

In Mothering magazing this month, they discuss “Mom’s Biggest Sleeping Mistakes.” I tend to take a more instinctual approach to all of this i.e. if you are feeling exhausted, look pale, can’t cope, find yourself weeping, and losing patience, (yes I am probably taking this to some sort of extreme) then rolling back to bed will probably do you the power of good. In truth, I find Mothering magazine sort of pedestrian but well-intended. A middle-of-the-road yardstick for mothers. So here are some of our common “mistakes” (take it with a pinch of salt ladies).

Napping When Your Baby Naps (I love telling my family I need to take a nap).

Mothering magazine: This classic advice applies only when you’re getting up every few hours at night to feed your newborn (unfortunately from a sleep perspective I still fall in this category). Once he is a few months old and sleeping longer — and especially if he’s sleeping through the night and you are, too - you don’t need to nap much….. If you snooze for three hours during the day, you may have trouble sleeping at night.

Better approach: If you’re tired, take a catnap at about the same time every day. Ten to 20 minutes will help you feel refreshed for another couple of hours

Sleeping Late On The Weekends When Your Husband Can Watch The Kids (One of the very last throw backs to my pre-motherhood status)

Mothering magazine: Of course it’s tempting, and you deserve the break. But sleep regularity is just as important as sleep quantity, says Amy Wolfson, Ph.D., author of The Woman’s Book of Sleep (I might have to check this one out). “If you’ve been sleep-deprived all week, getting a little extra on the weekends may be beneficial. But don’t overdo it, or you’ll throw off your sleep/wake cycle and Monday morning will be brutal.”

Not Exercising At All Or Exercising Too Close To Bedtime (I think this makes a lot of sense - in the evening the body is starting to recharge for the next day. According to Ayurvedic practice, one should do physical exercise in the morning based on your physical constitution and season. At night one should go to bed before 10PM when the Kapha energy predominiates and supports sleep: after 10PM a new cycle of activity begins with the rise of Vata energy betwen 10PM and 2AM and sleep may be less restful. Proper sleep ensures the individual strength, happiness, virility and a long life.)

Mothering magazine: Physical activity can help you nod off more easily and improve the quality of your sleep. How? No one knows for sure, but there are theories. It may help regulate your body’s circadian rhythms. Or, because exercise raises body temperature during the day, your body may try to lower its temperature at night, which makes you drowsy. Or perhaps exercise cuts down on anxiety and other problems that may interfere with sleep. Exercising close to your bedtime, though, can make your body too wired and your body too warm to sleep.

A better approach:
Be active during the day if possible, but not within two to three hours before bedtime. In a recent study, women who worked out first thing in the morning reaped the most sleep benefits. Aim for 30 to 60 minutes per day of aerobic activity. Even a brisk 10 minute walk three times a day helps.

On that note, and now that I have somewhat satiated my need to share my thoughts with you and be someone other than resident disciplinarian, 24 hour diner and milk lady, I am off to bed!

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February 12th, 2007 | Permalink