https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 16 May 2026 08:50:09 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-and-sleep-deprivation#post-2298846 Wed, 23 Sep 2015 00:41:28 +0000 ms.jellen 2298846@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I was sleep deprived the first year of DS' life.... Not because he didn't sleep but because I had insomnia since pregnancy. It was freaking horrible hearing everyone sleep around me at 3am while I was wide awake knowing that DS would wake up early whether I slept or not. Every freaking morning after 4 hours of sleep I'd throw on workout clothes and brough DS to a baby boot camp class and worked out like a mad man. That surprisingly gave me energy to last until 3am that night since naps also alluded my insomnia ass. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-and-sleep-deprivation#post-2298762 Tue, 22 Sep 2015 20:08:32 +0000 SleepyMonkey 2298762@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@NurseDMB: i am so glad i was still able to use coffee as a tool to combat sleep deprivation! i knew there was a reason i held off for so long. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-and-sleep-deprivation#post-2298537 Tue, 22 Sep 2015 15:40:35 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 2298537@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: THIS!!</p> <p>I have mild case of narcolepsy that is controlled with prescription stimulants, similar to ADD medication. Of course, those were off limits when pregnant and nursing. My kids didn't STTN until they were 13-14 months old. The only way I survived was power naps. All I needed was 10-15 min whenever I could get it (along with coffee, LOTS of coffee), and it made things much easier to handle. </p> <p>Now, I agree (&lt;3) with @winniebee: , there was a lot of bitching to my husband as well. Since he stayed up later than I did, we worked out a plan where he would get up with either kid if they woke up before 1am, and I would get them anytime between 1 and 5am (when I needed to get up for the day). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-and-sleep-deprivation#post-2298501 Tue, 22 Sep 2015 15:09:16 +0000 MrsH 2298501@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: best answer ever </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-and-sleep-deprivation#post-2298472 Tue, 22 Sep 2015 14:45:28 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2298472@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh wow, thanks everyone! Exercise is definitely a big one for me. I try to go for a walk every morning (you know, at 5am when the 7 month old decides she needs to have a dance party and if she wakes up her brother he will be a cranky mess all day). It always makes me feel better!</p> <p>@NurseDMB: omgosh I don't know how you do it. :shocked: </p> <p>@cascademom: &lt;3</p> <p>@MtnBiker: I need to remember to laugh. I get so worked up and frustrated but it doesn't really help. Laughter is definitely a better option ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-and-sleep-deprivation#post-2298309 Tue, 22 Sep 2015 12:56:46 +0000 NurseDMB 2298309@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SleepyMonkey: Yes! I never drank coffee until I had my son. Now I'm seriously addicted. I had zero caffeine when I was pregnant with my son, but this pregnancy.. Well.. I've definitely had caffeine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-and-sleep-deprivation#post-2298306 Tue, 22 Sep 2015 12:55:09 +0000 NurseDMB 2298306@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm just used to it by now. I work overnight shift part time but my 2 year old isn't in daycare so there are some days I'm up for over 24 hours and can only nap when he does. When he stops napping eventually, it will be even worse. I remember when my husband was saying how he's never been so tired before when my son was a newborn, and I'm like yeah, this is nothing lol. Eventually you just get used to the lack of sleep.</p> <p>Oh and of course Starbucks helps. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-and-sleep-deprivation#post-2298155 Tue, 22 Sep 2015 10:57:08 +0000 NavyRN2012 2298155@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly, I just deal with it. I drink coffee and a soda with lunch, lots of water throughout the day and count down the hours until I can go to bed. It's a terrible way to live, but what else am I supposed to do? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-and-sleep-deprivation#post-2298141 Tue, 22 Sep 2015 10:43:56 +0000 Ajsmommy 2298141@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Caffeine period.</p> <p>And some days I just suck at my job... but I try to make up for it on other days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-and-sleep-deprivation#post-2298139 Tue, 22 Sep 2015 10:41:51 +0000 Mamasig 2298139@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In the early days with sleep derivation, I went to bed super early to get some sleep. Walks around the office and a coke would help too. By the second kid, I think my body was just used to less sleep so I never really felt a difference. I felt the same regardless of the amount of sleep I got. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-and-sleep-deprivation#post-2298049 Tue, 22 Sep 2015 09:52:53 +0000 SleepyMonkey 2298049@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Go to bed early, nap when the kids nap, and coffee. I didn't start drinking it until a couple months ago. It helps a lot but i think i am addicted now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-and-sleep-deprivation#post-2298046 Tue, 22 Sep 2015 09:51:01 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 2298046@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes to exercise. It sucks because on those days when I haven't slept I really don't want to go, but if I can just force myself, I feel SO MUCH BETTER once I'm done. Like, I almost forget I didn't get any sleep afterward. And I'm more likely to sleep better the next night (sometimes when I get overtired it's even tougher for me to sleep because I get too anxious about it).</p> <p>Short-term: Diet Coke :-) I wish I could nap, but lately I am just never successful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-and-sleep-deprivation#post-2298041 Tue, 22 Sep 2015 09:47:23 +0000 MtnBiker 2298041@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>exercise, cold water, coffee, soda, and talking with DH. We've found that we can't tell when the other is tired and we try to take turns with the rough patches. </p> <p>and laughing - you do silly things when you're tired. I put my keys in the fridge at one point. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-and-sleep-deprivation#post-2298001 Tue, 22 Sep 2015 09:22:35 +0000 cascademom 2298001@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Another day of working &amp; total exhaustion from sleep deprivation here. I think J is going through teething or 4 month sleep regression. Husband is sick on top of it as well. I just want to sleep and not be at work. I'm another one who becomes bitchy to their husband when tired. I actually say really passive aggressive things to him as a weird, bad way to vent the tired. I'm working on improving it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-and-sleep-deprivation#post-2297998 Tue, 22 Sep 2015 09:19:17 +0000 blackbird 2297998@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Cold brew coffee. I just pour it out the night before, stumble to the fridge, and chug. It kicks in pretty quick. Bed early. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-and-sleep-deprivation#post-2297985 Tue, 22 Sep 2015 09:12:03 +0000 bushelandapeck 2297985@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: ditto :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-and-sleep-deprivation#post-2297954 Tue, 22 Sep 2015 09:00:04 +0000 snowjewelz 2297954@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: hahaha, I'm always afraid I'm giving K another reason to not sleep! Honestly most days I feel like coffee doesn't even really help! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-and-sleep-deprivation#post-2297949 Tue, 22 Sep 2015 08:59:06 +0000 winniebee 2297949@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: I just disregard caffeine rules since I'm still nursing too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-and-sleep-deprivation#post-2297933 Tue, 22 Sep 2015 08:49:38 +0000 snowjewelz 2297933@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just.. tough it out.. And I won't be that productive at work, haha. I actually don't really rely on caffeine either since I've been nursing/pumping this whole time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-and-sleep-deprivation#post-2297904 Tue, 22 Sep 2015 08:35:12 +0000 winniebee 2297904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I forgot about exercise. That helps me a ton! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-and-sleep-deprivation#post-2297841 Tue, 22 Sep 2015 07:59:21 +0000 Alivoo01 2297841@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: Same here. I find the afternoon hour to be the biggest struggle.</p> <p>Caffeine during lunch and getting up to walk around a bit helps, but I second doing menial tasks to get by like responding to emails, lining things up that need to be done, doing work that doesn't require too much brain function then working up to more productive stuff once you're in the mind set. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-and-sleep-deprivation#post-2297773 Tue, 22 Sep 2015 07:03:17 +0000 JoJoGirl 2297773@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Coffee and exercise were the only two things that helped, and even then I cried at my desk from exhaustion most days! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-and-sleep-deprivation#post-2297756 Tue, 22 Sep 2015 06:27:27 +0000 Adira 2297756@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: YES to being a bitch to the husband. I get more sleep than you, and I still do this. I use up all my sanity and patience at work and with the kids and so Hubs (and any object that annoys me) gets the brunt of what's left, which isn't pretty!</p> <p>Coffee helps me too. And chatting with friends. I don't think I could work effectively from home - I need to see other people to help wake me up! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-and-sleep-deprivation#post-2297755 Tue, 22 Sep 2015 06:20:53 +0000 hilary 2297755@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A big glass of cold water. Sometimes I strap the kids into the stroller/carrier and take a quick walk around the block for some fresh air or run the stairs 5-10 times. The little burst of exercise helps clear my mind. Also I sometimes make a list of what I need to do and strategically stagger easy then harder tasks so I get an easy win that helps motivate me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-and-sleep-deprivation#post-2297753 Tue, 22 Sep 2015 06:07:34 +0000 Rocker2014 2297753@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Caffeine.</p> <p>I started a new job after my 12 week maternity leave. I remember telling my new boss (who fortunately I had known professionally for a long time) to expect a surge in my productivity in about a year! I was just stupid until she started to sleep (around 8 months old).</p> <p>I found that for me, naps were worse than powering through. Napping has always left me feeling nauseous and groggy for hours afterward, and that didn't change post - baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-and-sleep-deprivation#post-2297750 Tue, 22 Sep 2015 06:02:06 +0000 looch 2297750@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I front load on sleep. Go to bed early, basically! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-and-sleep-deprivation#post-2297748 Tue, 22 Sep 2015 05:53:15 +0000 rachiecakes 2297748@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Coffee.<br /> I went back to work at 7 weeks postpartum and LO didn't STTN for a loooong time. I agree with PP suggestion to exercise, water &amp; sunlight. When I exercise regularly I do sleep better, even if I feel too exhausted to do it.<br /> I still try to go to bed early if it's been a tough week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-and-sleep-deprivation#post-2297745 Tue, 22 Sep 2015 05:36:00 +0000 cmomma17 2297745@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Exercise daily, drink tons of water, get some sunlight and don't feel guilty about napping when you need to and/or going to bed early. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-and-sleep-deprivation#post-2297730 Tue, 22 Sep 2015 00:35:32 +0000 gingerbebe 2297730@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs.kiwi: I never valued sleep properly until I got a colicky reflux baby. He's a decent sleeper now, but I got PPA/PPD SO BADLY from the sleep deprivation if his infant days and I have like PTSD about it. When he goes down for a nap and its like stop drop and roll. I have this ingrained fear that I will never sleep again if I don't sleep RIGHT NOW. Every time I put him down for a nap I have to ask myself "Am I tired? Do I need a rest? Is there something super pressing that cannot wait 30 minutes? Can I go until 630pm or 10pm without a break?" I would say over 50% of the time, nap or at least a quiet zone out break on the couch or recliner wins out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-and-sleep-deprivation#post-2297728 Mon, 21 Sep 2015 23:41:50 +0000 mrs.kiwi 2297728@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: wow. You are intense. In a I wanna be like you way lol. </p>