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New mums would
rather have a good night's sleep than an exotic holiday, the
results of a new survey show. The poll, conducted by Karvol
and the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) reveals the effects
of a new baby and related sleep issues on nearly 500 parents'
lives.
Before the birth,
mums listed exotic holidays as their ultimate luxury. But
after having their babies, nearly half - 43 per cent - claim
the greatest treat they could have was a good night's sleep
and a lie in.
One of their biggest
fears is that baby will make their sex life suffer. Most mothers
admit they didn't worry about sex before the birth - but four
times as many worried that their sex lives would be affected
once they had returned home with baby, with one in ten confessing
it is their biggest fear.
New mums admit
they turn to their friends rather than their own mothers when
it comes to advice about one of their biggest problems - managing
baby's sleep. Just 11% turn to their mother most often, compared
to almost 40% who seek their friend's advice. 23% and 14%
respectively are also more likely to turn to their partner
or Health Visitor for support before their own mother.
Almost a third
of parents have used baby as an excuse to either do something
or get out of something they didn't want to do. In particular,
33% of all respondents claim to have cancelled or cut short
social arrangements.
36% admit to doing
something completely crazy in the months that followed a baby's
birth due to a lack of sleep. Examples include:
- 'While still
breast feeding, leaving the house with my boobs out!'
- 'Answering
the door to the post-man one morning completely naked'
- 'Emptying the
shopping straight off the conveyor belt back into the shopping
trolley'
- 'Gone to work
in slippers'
Furthermore, one
in ten claim to have driven dangerously due to a lack of sleep
and 71% state that a lack of sleep makes them feel tired while
driving. This goes some way to support one parent's claim
'I think every mother of a new born baby has driven while
tired!'
When asked what
aspect of their life is most affected by a lack of sleep,
most mums claim it is their own well-being while another third
feel that it is their relationship with their partner. Surprisingly,
only one in 10 employed mums feel their work/professional
life is most affected.
Further findings
reveal that a lack of sleep makes 80% work more slowly and
55% feel irritable towards their baby. What's more, the largest
proportion - one third - were woken up two or three times
the previous night by their baby crying and two out of three
have suffered sleep deprivation within the last week.
Dr Rosemary Leonard
says, "In the weeks leading up to the birth, expectant parents
are warned about sleepless nights, but the reality of only
having a few hours sleep, night after night, is nearly always
worse than they could possibly have imagined. And women with
children, who are pregnant again, are always telling me how
they dread the sleepless nights that will inevitably come
with the new arrival. In order to enjoy parenthood it is essential
all parents learn how to settle their baby as quickly as possible,
and also make sleep one of their own top priorities. The Karvol
'Good Night's Sleep Guide' is designed to help both parent
and baby get a good night's sleep and includes expert advice
on establishing a good sleeping pattern and common sense solutions
to associated problems."
Belinda Phipps,
Chief Executive of the NCT comments, "New mothers do find
the sleep disturbance of a new baby difficult to cope with.
The NCT offers opportunities for new parents to meet and talk
to share the joys and trials of being a new parent."
The release of
this survey coincides with the launch of a 'Good Night's Sleep
Guide' by Karvol, which is specifically designed to help parents
settle their baby into a good sleeping pattern and is also
being distributed with the NCT's enquiry pack. Some top tips
include:
- Don't creep
around on tiptoe, talking in whispers. Your baby finds ordinary
background noise comforting - and by keeping too quiet,
you could turn him into a light, over-sensitive sleeper.
- Don't worry
about what sleep routines other mums claim their babies
are in. There's always someone whose baby apparently sleeps
all through the night from day one. But don't let what they
say upset you. Just because your baby won't settle it doesn't
mean you are a failure. It will happen in time - so don't
torture yourself.
Jill Baxter, Product
Manager, Karvol comments, "Karvol is committed to providing
parents with support on sleep issues via the Karvol Sleep
Management Service. Parents can also call 0115 968 8500 for
a free copy of Karvol's 'Good Night's Sleep Guide'."
For further information
on Karvol and the NCT, please visit www.karvol.co.uk
or www.nctpregnancyandbabycare.com. The NCT enquiry line number
is 0870 444 8707.
Parents might also
like to read the NCT's book "Help Your Baby to Sleep" by Penny
Hames, available from www.nctms.co.uk
or call 0870 112 1120.
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