You’ve probably heard more times than you can count to “get as much sleep as you can before the baby gets here.” If only it worked that way and we could “bank” our sleep for times when we really need it. While sleep deprivation is to some degree, somewhat normal during the newborn stage, there are ways that we can ameliorate the negative effects of sleep deprivation. Sleep is especially important because when we don’t get adequate sleep, we put ourselves at increased risk for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. While the newborn phase surely won’t be a time when you get your best sleep there are ways to get better sleep than you might imagine.

Motherhood is often depicted as a blissful time filled with newborn snuggles, bonding with baby, and joy as you watch your baby grow and meet new developmental milestones. Unfortunately, for many new mothers, that’s not often the reality of what motherhood feels like.