Whether motherhood is a familiar journey or a new experience, sleep issues are a common problem. Insomnia is the phenomenon of not being able to sleep even when tired, but it can also be an issue of being tired without getting enough sleep. When you are a new mother or an experienced one, you are likely to suffer from insomnia from time to time.
Problems with Insomnia
Whether you are dealing with sleep deprivation from nighttime parenting, worry, restless mental back-tracking or planning, insomnia can result in psychological and physical issues that can reduce your effectiveness as a parent. When the brain doesn't get enough rest, it starts to behave in maladaptive ways. Irritation, depression, anxiety and psychosis can result from extended sleep deprivation. If you are experiencing these issues or racing thoughts that prevent sleep, talk with your doctor to address the possibility of health issues.
Nighttime Parenting
Bringing home a new baby tends to be an exciting time in a parent's life. Visions of filling the house with the sound of tiny feet overrides the opportunity to look at the reality that long before those little feet can fill the house with noise, there will be another noise that keeps you up for long wakeful periods--the sound of crying. Babies are not able to stay asleep for long, single stretches of time, which leads to a reduction of solid sleep time for parents--especially mothers. Dr. William Sears recommends sharing sleep with your baby to deal with sleep deprivation.
Sleep Sharing
Sleep Sharing is an Attachment Parenting concept that emphasizes that both mother and child tend to sleep more restfully when together. Not only is the risk of SIDS while sleep sharing reduced when compared to SIDS' incidences in cribs, the ability to synchronize sleep becomes a way to teach baby to sleep without stress. Parents who wish to co-sleep with their babies will want to research the topic fully while ensuring that this is never practiced with any type of substance, due to a reduction in sensitivity and awareness. Sharing sleep may give a mother the confidence that her baby is safe, which may allow better relaxation and a reduction in insomnia.
Wakeful Considerations
Mothers who successfully get their children to sleep, but find that they are still unable to find slumber themselves, may be plagued with thoughts. As a mother thinks about all the things that must be done or put right, it can become a cycle of thinking and worry about thinking. Meditation can be an effective tool when looking for a natural sleep aid. Training the brain to focus on breath instead of thought takes some effort, but when used correctly, it can be effective at inducing relaxation and sleep.
Homeopathic Options
Many mothers struggling with insomnia are hesitant to use any type of pharmaceutical remedy to help rediscover sleep--lest addiction or breast-milk contamination become factors in an already difficult struggle. Homeopathy offers mothers dealing with insomnia a completely natural non-addictive alternative to help promote a restful sleep. Consult with a naturopathic doctor or homeopath to discuss which remedy might be most helpful for your specific insomnia issue.
References
- "The Baby Book"; William Sears, M.D., Martha Sears, R.N.; 2008
- "The Attachment Parenting Book: A Commonsense Guide to Understanding and Nurturing Your Baby"; William Sears, M.D. and Martha Sears, R.N.; 2001
- "Natural Mental Health"; Carla Wills-Brandon; 2007
