Have you ever been so tired you have walked past a wheelie bin and thought it looked rather comfy? Have you ever been so tired you feel all drunk and floaty and a bit giggly…before realising you’re at baby swimming lessons and should probably get a grip before someone calls Social Services?
Well I have. In fact, it is quite normal for me to feel like this at least once a week.
Sleep deprivation is a funny old thing. It can make you swing from feeling physically sick to ravenously hungry. You can be laughing hysterically one minute and crying hysterically the next. In short, it makes you a bit barmy. Actually, sleep deprivation is not particularly funny at all.
The worst thing about sleep deprivation has got to be not knowing when it will end. Before you have a baby, you know that, even if you are really really tired, you will be able to give in to sleep at some point in the near future. Not when you have a baby, though, oh no. Imagine running a marathon and being told at the finish line you have an indefinite distance still to cover. Then you have some idea of what being a new mum is like.
The thing is, Frog is not a particularly bad sleeper. She is not the worst, but she is not the best. She has slept through the night a few times. But then she throws a massive curve ball and is up every hour or so.
As if it is not bad enough being up all night with a miserable baby, you then have to field questions about it. Is it a growth spurt? Teething? Too hot? Too cold? Has she picked up a bad sleep association? I don’t bloody know! I barely even know my own name I’m so tired!
So I ring my mum for sympathy. Fat chance. “Well at least you know how I felt. You didn’t sleep through the night until you were five.” Great, thanks Mum.
Haggard old crone + baby
You blog is simply hilarious!!! been reading it over the last few days and you have had me in STITCHES lady!!! hahaha!!!! you rock! keep blogging JUST to keep my days full of sunshine ;o) ??? MLMBeautiful ??? xxx
Ah thanks lovely. Your blog has inspired me to try and save money and make something. I’m trying to make a peg bag out of an old shirt. So far it looks like something knocked together by my 8 month old child. Future post material methinks. x
I hear you. Kate Figes in her book LIfe After Birth reckons sleep deprivation is a major cause of post natal depression. I agree! It’s hard. It sent me mental! Now I’ve got a 3 yr old and a 1 yr old, they still don’t always sleep through! xxx
Can totally see how sleep deprivation could send someone mental. I wasn’t particularly sane to start off with so I suppose I’m completely buggered!
I thought pregnancy fatigue was bad, I see it doesn’t let up!
Hmmmm…you never know, you may get lucky and have a sleepy bub. Mine was disco-dancing in my womb right up until she came out – and she still hasn’t stopped!
Your Mum sounds just like mine! She hears our car coming and battens down the hatches before we have a chance of entering… Sleep is soooo underrated.
I now wish I slept continuosly for at least 5 years before having a baby. I was an idiot. How could I not have “stocked up”?!
you’re looking good for sleep deprived Molly! And does Frog sleep with her eyes partially open or is she awake on this pic? My eldest son does it & it freaks me out!
I’m feeling sleep deprived today but probably just Twitter inflicted!
x
Very freaky! She sleeps with her eyes closed…but they snap open at the slightest sound. She also has a sixth sense and chooses to wake up at the exact moment I fall asleep! x