How to Survive Newborn Days

It is no secret that newborn mothers experience issues with new sleeping patterns.  Being able to cope with the lack of sleep is a key to a better enjoyment of this new phase as a mother.  These new sleeping adjustments involve diaper changing, feeding your baby multiple times, dealing with colic, and your baby waking up throughout the night.  

Although, it sounds like a daunting process with no easy or quick solution, according to Sarah Garone (nutritionist) there are some strategies that we can implement to improve sleep times.   Below are a few things we can try:

• Practice good sleep routines. A good routine entails: a warm bath for the baby, reading a book, and deactivate electronics a couple of hours prior to placing your baby to sleep. 
• Consider the sleeping environment for both you and the baby.  Remove anything distracting in your bedroom, any objects or equipment that wouldn't promote relaxation in the room.  
• Ask for help. Accept help from family and friends. Catching up on night sleep with quick naps are always helpful. Having a support system in place can really provide a sense of relief.  
• Take turns with your partner. Having a partner to take turns with and delegate some tasks can provide few extra hours of sleep. If you are a single parent, ask friends or relatives to support you during this phase. For nursing mothers to create a breast milk bank supply for emergencies or in case someone else's is taking care of your baby for a short period of time is a great option to have.  Breast milk can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week if is done correctly. 
• Sleep train your baby. Consult with your pediatrician or apply your best parent judgment as when you feel that you and family are ready to best train your baby to sleep. There are several resources that can facilitate this process including: room lighting, bed sheets, comfortable clothing and others.
• Bringing work to home will not necessarily convey relaxation. To continue to bring working tasks at home doesn't help to decompress for you and the baby.
• Take time to be kind to yourself. Finding moments to relax by incorporating hobbies, watching favorite shows or programming, resting, reading, exercising, enjoying times with family and friends can help to eliminate stress from your body. Finding time to rejuvenate is a healthier option and a stress reliever.