How much rest do you really need with a newborn?

[BetsyS]

So, my sweet baby is now 6 days old, and I feel great. I didn't even realize how tired/exhausted/run down I had been feeling while pregnant. If anyone had asked, I'd have said that I felt pretty good pregnant.

I did nap with him a couple of days, but this is the 3rd day in a row that I haven't felt like I needed a nap? Do you think it'll just hit me all of a sudden? When I was pregnant, it was like I needed a nap at least every other day or I was just toast at the end of the day. So, it feels odd to not need one now.

FWIW, the baby is up 3-4 times a night to nurse. It seems to take forever, cause I have to change his diaper (I had forgotten that part!), but realistically, maybe 30 minutes or so at a time. We go to bed around 9, and I sleep until my kids get me up, around 6:30 or 7. Maybe that's just enough sleep this time?

Anyone else feeling really good?

[VroomieMama]

WOW! You're a SUPERMOM! My 1st, I was EXHAUSTED and mentally/emotionally drained mostly b/c I didn't have any support. The same with my 2nd (twins) but I had tons of support and hopefully the 3rd I'll have much more energy but I'll still seek support though.

Even if you're feeling really good right now but please, don't be afraid to seek support whenever you need one.

Originally Posted by BetsyS

So, my sweet baby is now 6 days old, and I feel great. I didn't even realize how tired/exhausted/run down I had been feeling while pregnant. If anyone had asked, I'd have said that I felt pretty good pregnant.

I did nap with him a couple of days, but this is the 3rd day in a row that I haven't felt like I needed a nap? Do you think it'll just hit me all of a sudden? When I was pregnant, it was like I needed a nap at least every other day or I was just toast at the end of the day. So, it feels odd to not need one now.

FWIW, the baby is up 3-4 times a night to nurse. It seems to take forever, cause I have to change his diaper (I had forgotten that part!), but realistically, maybe 30 minutes or so at a time. We go to bed around 9, and I sleep until my kids get me up, around 6:30 or 7. Maybe that's just enough sleep this time?

Anyone else feeling really good?

[whozeyermamma]

Just my experience with DD: I also remember feeling really great for a week and then - WHAM - getting sacked with exhaustion. BUT that doesn't mean it will happen for sure to you.

I guess, be prepared to take it easy - rest, if not nap when baby sleeps. But maybe you'll be lucky!

[mediumcrunch]

day to day. Max really is pretty easy at night. He wakes to nurse, I don't know- 2-4 times. I'm not sure since I just latch him on and go back to sleep. some days I am fine, don't feel the need to lay down and rest...like yesterday. I had a lot to do and even went to a meeting and didn't get home until 10 and bed until midnight. well, now today I am FRIED. I laid down for a couple hours and realistically could probably just go to bed now for the rest of the day which is NOT going to happen.

[mommyabroad]

I felt really great for the first week and a half or so. But now DD is awake more and there is more crying and gas and we've moved beyond the wake/eat/sleep cycle. I had a wonderful birth and felt like I had energy from that flowing for several days. Now on week 3, I can feel my impatience and tiredness more. Trying to balance work, a newborn, and an older child. Thank gosh hubby has been home.

[Aka mommy]

The first week i felt awesome, then it hit me. First signs of mastitis, then a uti and now a sinus infection. We are on day 16 and i feel worse now then i did right after birth. With the last 2 kids, the same thing happened and i over did it. So this time i took the 7 days dh was off and did very little, but i think honestly the lack of sleep caught up with me.

Sounds like you have an awesome sleeper. Color me jealous lol! My little man wakes me up at least every hour and fusses/screams unless latched on through out most the night. And i think colic has begun. He's up from at least 10 pm to midnight letting the world know he's not too happy with the outside LOL

[jdg]

I was tired after giving birth and napped daily for about 7-10 days, then started making it through the day without napping. I started having something closer to my "normal" sleep schedule around 3 weeks, but in the past few days (DD is now 5 weeks old) have been sleeping crazy amounts (I climbed into bed at 9:00 last night and didn't get up until noon today). So I'm all over the place.

One of my sisters, who had an exhausting and difficult pregnancy, thought new motherhood was a breeze when she had her first. She had a more normal, easy pregnancy the second time around and found motherhood more tiring. Maybe perception is more of a comparison to how easy/difficult of a time women have during pregnancy?

[Mamja]

Originally Posted by whozeyermamma

Just my experience with DD: I also remember feeling really great for a week and then - WHAM - getting sacked with exhaustion. BUT that doesn't mean it will happen for sure to you.

I guess, be prepared to take it easy - rest, if not nap when baby sleeps. But maybe you'll be lucky!

Yep, this is how I feel.

[nmelanson]

I felt amazing after DS was born - I had the most amazing endorphin high for a couple of weeks after the birth and hardly ate or slept. I even felt like I was coping really well for months despite not napping regularly and waking all night every 2-3 hours. Eventually I did wear down and felt like I was walking through a fog and I could only really see (notice/focus on) things that were right in front of me - but this took a good 6 months.

I do think that everyone has different sleep needs - some mamas may be really efficient sleepers in those 2-3 hours between night feedings. However, considering that baby is only 6 days old, be aware that you could still be enjoying the post-birth endorphins. ENJOY THEM!