Hey, New Mom: Here’s The Real Reason Why You’re So Tired In The Morning
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As you would all agree, stepping into the motherhood chapter of life can be pretty exciting. But, with this new phase also comes immense responsibilities. After all, you feel responsible for the well-being of another tiny person – someone who is entirely dependent on you.
When I became a mother for the first time, I was surprised by the whirlwind of emotions that I felt each day. Of course, I had been warned by my family and friends alike that my entire life will undergo drastic changes. More than anything, I was warned about how my entire sleep routine will go for a toss.
So, of course, I was pleasantly surprised when my newborn was totally easy-breezy in the initial few months. My son had somehow figured out the entire day and night cycle, without me having to do anything. What was great was that he gave both me and my significant other long stretches of time where we could sleep easily.
But, this honeymoon period ended when he turned six months old. And, then started a reign of terror which lasted for around a year and a half. He started waking up at least six times at night. In the first two months, I calmed myself down saying that it might be just a phase. But, then I moved on from the denial phase and became a little cranky and moody.
So, of course, I started doing a lot of research on the internet. At the time, my internet history was full of phrases like “how to sleep better” or “sleeping techniques that actually work”. I, in fact, even began asking my well-rested friends with newborns as to how they were managing to get their little ones to sleep through the night.
I am not going to deny that it was a bad phase. But, as I searched about “how many hours of sleep does an individual need”, I came across a pretty interesting research paper. Sleep Medicine published a study that stated how having an interrupted sleep induces a similar physical toll as that of no sleep (1). Actually, given the state of affairs at my home, this piece of news came as no surprise.
The study was conducted by the researchers of the School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Israel. They found that disrupted sleep was linked with compromised cognitive capabilities, reduced attentiveness, and low moods. And, this was the case when the volunteers had to just undergo a single night of disturbed sleep. Moreover, the scientists also mentioned how having a night of intermittent sleep is essentially the same as getting only four hours of sleep.
One of the researchers, Avi Sadeh, said how even if the disruption is relatively short (about five to ten minutes), it will still disturb the natural rhythm of sleep. He went on to say how the study had only shown the impact of one such fitful night. He emphasized that for new parents, it is sort of an accumulated effect since they wake up 3-10 times during the night for months at a stretch.
Avi not only talked about the physical toll, but he also mentioned its emotional repercussions. He talked about how parents can feel angry towards their newborn at times, which in turn, can make them feel supremely guilty.
And, I am not exaggerating when I say how I found this so relatable. More than the exhaustion and nausea, it was the guilt that made me feel miserable each morning. Here I had the most adorable, little boy who I loved much more than anything in the world. But, still, the constant wakings were making both me and my husband super stressed.
However, spreading awareness about issues such as these can make a huge difference. As I realized that my feelings were natural, it became relatively easier for me to battle it. And, of course, seeing my little one’s sweet face also worked wonders!
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