yay! After giving birth, mothers lose four times as much sleep as men (and here’s what you can do about it)
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After the arrival of a baby, the hours slept in a night can sometimes be counted on one hand. When it comes to sleep, mothers often get the short end of the stick, research shows. After giving birth, they lose an average of four times as much sleep as men.
Research shows that sixty percent of mothers only return to their old sleep level after six years. As a result, women spend many more valuable hours of sleep after giving birth than men.
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Mom vs Dad
For the mother with the puffiness to the toes, mattress brand is now jumping Emma Sleep & Mom Inc., a community for working mothers, in the breach. Sanne Nout, founder of Mom Inc.tells LINDA.nl: “Mothers often find it difficult to catch up on sleep. In their new role as mothers, they take on all kinds of tasks, often without discussing with their partner who is responsible for which parts of the care of the child and the household. This often causes the difference in sleep deprivation.”
Read also: 5x recognizable quotes about lack of sleep
Plan, plan, plan
With the campaign ‘Sleep is sacred’ and developed Emma Sleep and Mom Inc. a sleep plan. And it shows above all: Communication is key. Be sure to discuss who does what. Who keeps track of what needs to be bought and who cooks? But also: who keeps an overview of financial matters? And who plans the appointments – from consultation office to children’s birthday? Doing the task often takes less energy than keeping an overview and planning.
Emergency plan
And also not unimportant: Make an emergency plan that clearly states what you really need if you don’t get enough sleep and how you know from each other that you are walking on your gums. To do this, agree on a safe word together so that the other person immediately knows what time it is.
In addition to the sleeping plan, they also give some tips.
1. Think of yourself
The love for your baby is unconditional, but don’t forget to give yourself some love too. Create a routine that works for you and be mindful of your own health. For example, schedule a moment for yourself every day such as a yoga class, walk or something else that ensures that you relax.
2. Avoid Night Terrors
Try to limit things that can disrupt your child’s sleep and develop a routine to help your child relax before going to sleep. Consider, for example, no screens, no deviating fixed bedtimes and eating or drinking as little as possible just before sleeping.
3. Time to say goodbye
According to research, it is good to sleep together for the first 6 months. But consider having your baby sleep in their own room when they sleep independently. Only do this if you feel safe and comfortable doing so. Otherwise you will still get stressed so you can’t sleep.
Read also: With these tips you help your child to sleep in his own bed
Source: “Sleep Is Sacred” by Mom Inc. & Emma Sleep, LINDA.nl
