How is sleep deprivation affecting you? (if you are sleep deprived.)

coffeeandbooks · December 2013

Curious to know how those that are sleep deprived are dealing physically and mentally.

My LO has been up every 1 to three hours since he was born and in a way I am surprised I am dealing as well as I am.

I think my biggest symptom is brain fog. I have never taken a Valium but I would guess this would be how I would feel if I did - slightly anesthetized - and not completely unpleasant.

I don't feel tired in the way I would have expected. I can't nap and I don't really feel like nodding off all the time...just feeling a bit spacy. I honestly can't even imagine what feeling rested feels like anymore. It is just like the new normal for me.

How are the rest of you who aren't sleeping dealing with it?

PumpkinAndThePeanut · December 2013

I'm kind of the same. I used to be the biggest baby about getting 8 hours of sleep... And I haven't got more than 5 hours of consecutive sleep one.single.night in 8 months. V and E each wake about 3 times/night (so that's 6 wakings for me) and have never been good sleepers (well, E was good until about 4 months).

I work full time and am actually doing fine with the lack of sleep - like you said, it's just my new normal. I do think it affects my memory though. I find myself forgetting things more, especially work related things.

Blueyed228 · December 2013

My babies didnt start sleeping until about a week ago, so this new 5 hour sleep stretches for me is fantastic.

But physically Im a mess. My hair is falling out and breaking off, my skin looks gross. I have a hard time with memory stuff.

I cant day nap, so I feel like a spacey robot.

strawny0807 · December 2013

@Blueyed228 - I don't know how you do it. I'm barely hanging on with one baby!!

I walk around in a fog most days and have a poor short-term memory these days. I always seem to get my second wind after DD goes to bed at night though and then I can't fall asleep. I also can't nap. I will say, on days that it's nice enough to go for a walk outside with the dog and the baby I *almost* feel like my old self.

I feel like I've aged 8 years in the past 8 months.

telicious2 · December 2013

I am definitely more forgetful and my hair breaks off too. And depending on how tired I am I may be more short tempered than I want to be.

LO did give me a nice 5 hr stretch last night. So I feel pretty good.

PumpkinAndThePeanut · December 2013

Shantxtell said:

The twin Moms just had to come in here and put us all to shame with TWO non sleeping babies.....

It's my own fault... I should sleep train but don't even know where to start with two, they'd be waking each other up. And I really don't want to do CIO. So I find myself with two babies, a DH and a dog in my bed, getting a total of about 6 hours of sleep but in 2-3 hour stretches.

surpriseaddition · December 2013

I teach fourth grade math and social studies. I am making a lot of silly mistakes each time I write on the board. I also mistake words or can't remember a word. Just last Friday I was trying to tell my 15 yo DD I had candy canes left from my class party....and instead I said "those things...not lollipops but..." As I pointed at the box. She looked at me like I was nuts. I agree I no longer feel physically tired since I think my body has adjusted, but my mind is definitely "misfiring" for lack of a better word.

PumpkinAndThePeanut · December 2013

@surpriseaddition, I do the same (forgetting words).

TheyCalledHerKate · December 2013

I definitely get less sleep now than before and I wake up at 5:30 to pump so I never sleep in on weekends either. I notice that sometimes after I drop off the baby at daycare that I start tk get

coffeeandbooks · December 2013

moms of multiples always help to keep things in perspective for me.

I have also been researching about how segmented sleep was once considered normal:
https://www.history.vt.edu/Ekirch/sleepcommentary.html (it seems one waking at least is normal...hope to get down to that one day.)

c-elizabethf · December 2013

I'm kind of used to it but I'm really forgetful about some things.

Shoegal36 · December 2013

I'm super tired when I first wake up, but once I have my shower and a coffee I'm fine. I always think I'm going to nap, but once her nap time rolls around...I'm wide awake. I've pretty much adjusted to it I think. My hair and skin look pretty awful though, and DH's grandmother was going on about how pale I am lol

I also can't reaaally say I'm sleep deprived. Even though LO wakes up every 1.5 - 2 hours, I'm pretty lucky in a sense that she only nurses for under 10 minutes and goes back to sleep. Consecutive sleep would just be oh so nice

c-elizabethf · December 2013

@scormier123 Coffee is my best friend.

PumpkinAndThePeanut · December 2013

@scormier123, same here. V and E sleep on either side of me, so I don't even have to get up when they wake. They will both usually go right back to sleep after nursing for 5 or 10 minutes (or occasionally, just getting the nipple in their mouth will do the trick). The only time this doesn't work is if they wake at the same time. Then I nurse one while DH carries the other around the bedroom until it's her turn. Occasionally E will wake up at 4 AM and decide it's time to practice screeching or pulling up, and is up for an hour or two, but that's rare. If I had to get out of bed, walk down the hall, spend 30 minutes getting a baby back to sleep, then I would probably be much more sleep deprived than I am.

raw1299 · December 2013

I just finally started getting a full nights sleep a few weeks ago, but, my memory is suffering, and the whole balancing DD and DH is hard. Our relationship has been suffering a little bit- especially now because of the holidays and traveling, etc.

drhibbard · December 2013

I'm a super twat to my husband. Have forgotten a bag of groceries at the store twice. My hair isn't washed as often as it used to be.

Blueyed228 · December 2013

PumpkinAndThePeanut said:

Shantxtell said:

The twin Moms just had to come in here and put us all to shame with TWO non sleeping babies.....

It's my own fault... I should sleep train but don't even know where to start with two, they'd be waking each other up. And I really don't want to do CIO. So I find myself with two babies, a DH and a dog in my bed, getting a total of about 6 hours of sleep but in 2-3 hour stretches.

I did a non-CIO non-Ferber sleep training with them. It took about a week. I can share with you if you want. Its only been a week but its been really effective and they are like whole new babies. She wasnt in my bed, but in the PnP next to it. He was in my bed.

ETA: a week to get them used to it. Its still up in the air if it will continue to work long term, but its working for now.

SpanFran · December 2013

My joints. My poor old lady joints. I have arthritis that stems from 2 years of undiagnosed Lyme Disease (funsies) which is/was more or less manageable by good rest at night. So now since there is precious little sleep, I hobble around like an old bitty. I can work some of the kinks out pretty quick in the morning, but it still hurts like hell all day.

Blueyed228 · December 2013

Shantxtell said:

The twin Moms just had to come in here and put us all to shame with TWO non sleeping babies.....

Honestly, I dont know any different than if it was just one baby so I cant say "oh its SO MUCH WORSE!" because who knows. Maybe it is, maybe its not.

I think sleep deprivation is a form of torture, so it doesnt matter if its being caused by 1 or 2 babies in my eyes.

PumpkinAndThePeanut · December 2013

Blueyed228 said:

PumpkinAndThePeanut said:

Shantxtell said:

The twin Moms just had to come in here and put us all to shame with TWO non sleeping babies.....

It's my own fault... I should sleep train but don't even know where to start with two, they'd be waking each other up. And I really don't want to do CIO. So I find myself with two babies, a DH and a dog in my bed, getting a total of about 6 hours of sleep but in 2-3 hour stretches.

I did a non-CIO non-Ferber sleep training with them. It took about a week. I can share with you if you want. Its only been a week but its been really effective and they are like whole new babies. She wasnt in my bed, but in the PnP next to it. He was in my bed.

ETA: a week to get them used to it. Its still up in the air if it will continue to work long term, but its working for now.

I'm interested - thanks. Where are they sleeping now? In their own room(s)?

Blueyed228 · December 2013

PumpkinAndThePeanut said:

Blueyed228 said:

PumpkinAndThePeanut said:

Shantxtell said:

The twin Moms just had to come in here and put us all to shame with TWO non sleeping babies.....

It's my own fault... I should sleep train but don't even know where to start with two, they'd be waking each other up. And I really don't want to do CIO. So I find myself with two babies, a DH and a dog in my bed, getting a total of about 6 hours of sleep but in 2-3 hour stretches.

I did a non-CIO non-Ferber sleep training with them. It took about a week. I can share with you if you want. Its only been a week but its been really effective and they are like whole new babies. She wasnt in my bed, but in the PnP next to it. He was in my bed.

ETA: a week to get them used to it. Its still up in the air if it will continue to work long term, but its working for now.

I'm interested - thanks. Where are they sleeping now? In their own room(s)?

Ill start a new thread.

raw1299 · December 2013

Shantxtell said:

Glad to know you are getting a full nights sleep in a sleep deprivation thread ::eye roll::

I still get stray nights where she's up 1-2x a night. I'm still not 100%. I think we're all suffering here. I just hope you ladies get more sleep in the future.

Oohgurl · December 2013

raw1299 said:

Shantxtell said:

Glad to know you are getting a full nights sleep in a sleep deprivation thread ::eye roll::

I still get stray nights where she's up 1-2x a night. I'm still not 100%. I think we're all suffering here. I just hope you ladies get more sleep in the future.

Amer0317 · December 2013

Blueyed-I need to know your magic (non-Ferber/CIO)! Can't wait to read about it!

ETA-I am so tired I can't even finish a post. DH and I were just taking today that we've got to do something, that the nighttime wake ups are getting ridiculous. I have a similar problem as another poster though, since I breastfed, W loses his shit when I go in to try to comfort him without feeding him.

Ridgebackmom · December 2013

I think the same thing. HOW IN THE WORLD am I functioning right now?!? I just do. Niether of my kids are good sleeps...oh well. I'd like to start sleep training but I'm still nursing so I cant pick him up and rock him or even look at him or he'll "smell" me. Its funny. Hubby could do it but he's "so tired". LMTiredAO. He's tired?!?!?
Where do I begin? He has not slept more than 4 hrs since he was born. Even naps are short for him.

I do not nap either, I'd rather clean!..Ahhh a clean house, what's THAT like!?!?

Cleaning is on the back burner, how embarrassing when ppl come over. We both work and with 2 little ones, I'd rather spend the time with them.

fancefpp · December 2013

I'm cranky all the time, look like a homeless person 85% of the time (probably smell like one too) and forget how to speak....I point and grunt a lot. We even bed share and I'm still a mess. He's up a lot and refuses to sleep anywhere near the crib. At this rate he will be sttn in his crib....um, never. Seriously, when I really, really have to function. I somehow find a way to power through. Mostly for poor DS1.

Lolalipsy · December 2013

I'm definitely interested in the non CIO Ferber method.

I'm up every 1.5 hours but the silver lining is that she only feeds for about ten mins each time then goes back to sleep. Only trouble is that I struggle to fall back asleep. I'm working on that.

I think I manage quite well for hardly any sleep. Sure I only get to brush my teeth in the afternoon and I forget quite a lot but I'm functioning. It does feel like I'm burning the candle at both ends but you just have to roll with the punches.

PumpkinAndThePeanut · December 2013

@lolalipsy, every time I Bump from an actual computer (ie. when I'm at work), I giggle at your siggy pic of the Queen flipping the double bird. Love that.

Lolalipsy · December 2013

@pumpkinandthepeanut. I love it too. I feel like a rebel

raw1299 · December 2013

Shantxtell said:

Shantxtell said:

Glad to know you are getting a full nights sleep in a sleep deprivation thread ::eye roll::

I still get stray nights where she's up 1-2x a night. I'm still not 100%. I think we're all suffering here. I just hope you ladies get more sleep in the future.
Yes, full nights sleep with a few "stray" wake ups must be terrible. Did you read the FFFC this week? Edit: technically last week.

No, sorry, I don't have time to read 200+ posts, and keep up with every thread. I have a life, with a husband, a baby and real friends. Just because I posted a few times talking about my business? Get real. Since you all love each other so much, you guys should meet up and eat each other out. You all act like your shit don't stink. I'm done.

will ferrell (320) Animated Gif on Giphy

Blueyed228 · December 2013

emmy236 · December 2013

A county inspector called to ask my address so he could inspect our new furnace. I forgot my house number. I had to walk outside and look at my house for the numbers. That's how tired I am because R is up at least twice a night and is wide awake at 530 every frickin morning. Mamas of twins you are my heros