If you’ve recently welcomed a little one into your life, you’re likely all too familiar with the feeling of exhaustion. Initially, the joy of motherhood can overshadow the sleepless nights, but even the most optimistic new moms will eventually feel the weight of fatigue. Here are eight unmistakable signs that you might be an exhausted new mom:
- During a playful chat about eye colors with your toddler, she innocently remarks, “Dad has green eyes, I have brown eyes, the baby has blue eyes. You have red eyes.”
- You find yourself in tears upon realizing that your beloved afternoon coffee might be contributing to your breastfed baby’s sleeplessness, leaving you questioning your caffeine habits.
- When your child-free friend shares her tiredness after a few late nights and claims she needs a solid eight hours to function, you can’t help but wish a touch of colic upon her future child.
- You run into another mom at the grocery store whose baby is around the same age as your little night owl. She looks polished and fully awake, while you’re dressed in your go-to yoga pants and a t-shirt that you sniffed for any signs of baby spit-up. As she cheerfully announces that her baby is sleeping through the night, you smile through gritted teeth, mentally cataloging all the inventive ways to express your frustration.
- The morning light finds you overhearing your partner inviting friends over for brunch, insisting, “Our night wasn’t that bad.” You can’t shake the feeling he must have slept in another dimension, especially as you struggle to open your left eye in the mirror.
- The intimacy you once cherished with your partner has transformed into a competitive game of sleep chicken. Each time the baby cries, you both feign sleep, hoping the other will relent and attend to the fussing infant. Winning means a few extra minutes of shut-eye; losing means frustration and a dirty look directed at the one who didn’t take action.
- Your baby has developed a habit of crying whenever you attempt to lay him down. He’s become your constant companion, and when he finally dozes off in his crib, all you dream of is a relaxing bubble bath and a little time with a good book. But just as you think you can sneak away, your partner shoots you a knowing glance, and you pretend not to see him—after all, you can only focus with one good eye.
- On one of those particularly challenging nights when nothing seems to soothe your newborn, you’ve tried every trick in the book: feeding, bouncing, rocking, and cuddling. After hours of relentless crying, your husband suggests, “Just put him on your boob!” Your response, “You put him on your boob!” evokes a moment of consideration from him, and you both burst into laughter at the absurdity of the situation.
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In summary, motherhood is a beautiful yet exhausting journey filled with unique challenges. Recognizing the signs of fatigue can help you find ways to cope and seek support when needed.