New mothers suffer from severe sleep deprivation, which amounts to an average of 4 hours per day, and the number of hours varies between the mother who breastfeeds her child naturally or artificially, the child may need to feed once for 45 minutes in its first days. And with the addition of many factors, the new mother becomes in a state of extreme exhaustion due to the lack of sleep hours.
The suffering of new mothers
In the first year of the child's life, the mother gets an average of 4 hours and 44 minutes of sleep per day, according to a report published by The Independent newspaper - about a study conducted on mothers' sleep deprivation - found that the mother loses 59% of the total normal daily need for a person .
The report added that there are many mothers who practice rocking children and walking them for a distance equal to two miles a day, equivalent to that distance annually 28 marathons (the length of the marathon is 42.195 km), and the study revealed that the mother is emotionally drained during that period in which she wakes up 3 times every night.
That study was conducted in Britain, and 23% of the study sample reported that sleep deprivation pushed them to act somewhat strange, 11% suffered from hallucinations at some point, and 44% suffered from memory difficulties, although the first three months of a child's life are the most difficult. It may last until the child's first years.
A research study on sleep published by the Oxford Academy also reported that although both parents are not satisfied with the daily sleep hours, mothers are more exposed to less deep sleep levels, as mothers' suffering begins since pregnancy in which they lose a full hour of their normal daily sleep rates.
“This reflects the fact that mothers are the main caregiver, and their role is greater than that of fathers,” says Dr. Sakary Limola, a professor at the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom who participated in the study. Recover from it and return to pre-pregnancy levels until 6 years after the birth of their first child. "
Despite the frustrations raised by the studies, more studies have talked about practical solutions to get out of that cycle.
Sleep Tips
Med Web site specialists provide several tips to help mothers, including talking about the need for sleep and asking for help, and experts also advise them to use natural milk pumps to help the mother sleep for several hours at a time without the need to wake up for breastfeeding.
The report advised mothers to sleep simultaneously with the child as soon as he went to sleep, and not be indifferent to any other household tasks, and accept help, and although it is something that seems very sensitive to many mothers, but help at this stage is very necessary, as it helps to get enough sleep, or Midday naps reduce the risk of postpartum depression.
Maternity experts also recommend organizing the child's sleep and ensuring that he takes a rest by checking the signs of satiety and comfort for the child as much as possible, by establishing consistent sleep habits every night such as a warm bath and scattering the perfume of lavender and reading even for the young age of children, as they get used to that On a sleep routine.
Although having children is a major source of joy for most parents, the responsibilities that fall upon the mother may lead to deprivation of her sleep hours and a lack of quality, until the child reaches the age of 4 to 6 years.
Sleep is essential for the biological maintenance of the body, and it maintains the functioning of the body's systems, so taking adequate sleep is essential for your mental health, and it is indispensable to continue the journey of life.