Have you ever been falling asleep and suddenly get that sensation that you're falling? What happens next?
If you’re like most, it wakes you. How does the beating of your heart feel? What about your breath? Did it speed up too?
This happens when our sleep is light and it's a common experience among humans.
When your baby is newly born you may see a similar reaction that happens in their sleep.
All of a sudden their one arm will fling into the air, even though their body is still and their eyes are closed.
Not to worry, this happens because newborn sleep is usually light. That's the way they’re wired. Sleeping lightly is a protective measure babies are born with.
Causes of Anxiety
Speaking of the startle free-falling dreams, reminds me of just how many times moms can be startled during an ordinary day of parenting. There are just so many unknowns and things that you can’t control, even if this is not your first child.
One of the worst things that happens to pregnant and new moms is getting stuck in social media rabbit holes that pressure you to do this, that and the other thing. Furthermore, they often suggest that whatever you do, you must do perfectly.
And you just want to be the best mom you can be.
This is a gentle and loving reminder that you’ve got a lot going on. Adding to all of your regular responsibilities and tasks is the challenge of adjusting to a new body and hormone fluctuations that might be playing all kinds of havoc with your appetite, emotions and ability to fully relax.
Cut yourself some slack (trust me on this.)
It’s a lot to manage on its own, but add in the fact that your nervous system is hardwired to be triggered from hearing the cries of a baby and it can be very overwhelming.
You heard me correctly, when our babies cry, our bodies react with a stress response. Your breathing rate increases and your muscles tense. Before you can do anything about it, your brain’s been sent a message to either get the hell out of there or put up a fight.
The number one best thing you can do to help calm your baby is to remain calm yourself. Yet, your body automatically tells your brain it's fight or flight time.
I’m not saying that we should be running away each time our baby cries out. We can do hard things, but let's find ways to manage the stress & take care of our baby’s needs, without building up and stacking on our anxiety.
The stress is real. Go easy on yourself. I have something you can try to keep the anxiety at bay.
It starts with sleep.
The good news is that more quality sleep can help reduce feelings of anxiety. The bad news is that losing sleep is a reality for parents of newborns.
How can I help you create peace for yourself and your baby?
It’s by building your resilience, increasing your patience, and improving both your mood and energy.
We do this by:
-finding ways that work for you to get more sleep and rest BEFORE your baby arrives.
-figuring out what keeps you going, fills your cup, replenishes your soul and brings you joy
-then, we offer support by encouraging you to take baby steps to begin practicing these things while you’re waiting for your baby to come.
You were built to be a mom and with the support of my program and our community, your journey will be so much smoother and more enjoyable. The skills you gain will help carry you through not only the prenatal period but postnatal too and on throughout motherhood.
Head over to our website to get all the details of the program I tailored for moms like you and determine how it can ease your anxiety and help you enjoy time with your baby just that much more. https://www.SleepandBeyondConsulting.com
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