If you’ve recently welcomed a little one into your life, you’re probably all too familiar with the feeling of fatigue. Initially, those cheerful thoughts of, “I’m just over the moon to be a mom fluttering lashes, I don’t mind late nights at all!” are delightful. However, even the most optimistic new moms will eventually find themselves running on empty. Here are eight unmistakable signs that you’re a seriously exhausted new mom:
- During a casual chat about favorite colors with your toddler, she innocently remarks, “Daddy has blue eyes, I have green, the baby has brown, and you have… purple?”
- You have an emotional meltdown upon realizing that your much-needed afternoon coffee might be the reason your breastfed baby is wide awake at night.
- When your friend without kids shares her exhaustion from a couple of late nights, you can’t help but wish, deep down, that her future baby has a penchant for colic.
- You run into another mom at the grocery store who looks fabulous with her baby around the same age as your little night owl. Meanwhile, you’re in your go-to outfit: yoga pants and a t-shirt that could probably use a wash. You’re pretty sure you skipped brushing your teeth. As she shares how her baby is sleeping through the night, you plaster on a smile while internally yelling, “eff you!” and fighting the urge to hide in the dairy section.
- First thing in the morning, you overhear your husband inviting friends over for brunch, saying, “Oh no, our night wasn’t that bad.” You glance in the mirror and wonder if he’s been sleeping on a different planet, because one of your eyes refuses to budge.
- The time you and your partner spend together has shifted from romantic to a bizarre game of chicken. Each baby cry triggers a new round where you both pretend to be sound asleep, hoping the other will take the plunge and handle the situation. If you manage to outlast your partner, you might score a few extra minutes of sleep, but if you lose, it’s a dramatic throw of the covers and a glare that says, “You owe me!”
- Your little one has a knack for crying every time you lay him down, making him your constant sidekick. When you finally get him to sleep in his crib, visions of a bubble bath and 15 minutes of reading dance in your head. But just then, you catch your husband’s gaze, and you pretend you didn’t see it, for your one good eye is all you have left!
- On one of those endless nights where your newborn won’t stop crying despite your best efforts—feeding, bouncing, rocking, changing—you’re at your wit’s end. When your husband suggests, “Just put him on your boob!” tears spring to your eyes at the thought of another feeding with cracked nipples. You shoot back, “You put him on your boob!” and for a split second, you can see him weighing the options.
For more insights and tips, check out this excellent resource on pregnancy and home insemination at UCSF’s Center. Also, if you’re exploring options for starting a family, visit Make a Mom for great products. And for more about home insemination, don’t miss this post at Intracervical Insemination.
In summary, being a new mom can be a whirlwind of exhaustion, laughter, and unexpected challenges. Recognizing these signs can help you find the humor in the chaos and hopefully connect with other moms who understand the journey.