If you’ve recently welcomed a little one into your life, you know all too well the feeling of sheer exhaustion. Initially, those thoughts of “I’m so thrilled to be a mom *flutters eyelashes*; staying up all night is no biggie!” can feel uplifting. However, even the most upbeat new moms can swiftly reach their limit. Here are eight unmistakable signs that you’re a fatigued new mama:
- Engaged in a light chat about eye colors with your three-year-old, she chimes in with, “Daddy has green eyes, I have brown eyes, the baby has blue eyes, and you have red eyes.”
- You find yourself crying when you realize that your much-needed afternoon coffee might be contributing to your breastfed baby’s sleepless nights.
- When your friend without kids shares how exhausted she is from a few late nights and insists she needs a solid eight hours to function, you can’t help but mentally wish for her future baby to have colic.
- At the grocery store, you run into another mom with a baby the same age as your little night owl. She looks radiant and put together while you’re rocking your go-to outfit: yoga pants and a well-worn t-shirt that you sniffed to check for baby spit-up before leaving the house. You can’t remember if you brushed your teeth, and your baby has been in the same pajamas for two days. She mentions her baby is sleeping through the night, and you smile while silently cursing under your breath.
- It’s early morning, and you overhear your partner inviting friends over for brunch, casually saying, “Oh, our night wasn’t that bad.” You wonder if he somehow woke up on another planet, while you struggle to keep one eye open in the mirror.
- The intimate moments you once enjoyed with your partner have become a nightly challenge. Every time the baby cries, you both engage in a game of pretending to be asleep until one of you gives in and tends to the little one. If you manage to outlast your partner, you might snag a few extra hours of sleep—if not, you dramatically throw off the covers and glare at him.
- Your baby, who insists on being held all the time, has become your constant companion. When you finally manage to lay him down and he drifts off to sleep, all you can think about is enjoying a bubble bath and a few moments with a good book. Just then, your partner gives you that look, and you pretend you didn’t see it, since you can only see out of one eye.
- On a particularly challenging night, your newborn won’t stop crying no matter what you do. After hours of trying everything, your partner suggests, “Just put him on your boob!” With sore, cracked nipples, the thought makes you tear up, leading you to retort, “You put him on your boob!” and for a split second, you see him seriously consider it.
If you’re navigating the overwhelming journey of motherhood, you’re certainly not alone. For more insights on parenting, check out resources like Kindbody or explore topics related to home insemination kits and couples’ fertility journeys at Make a Mom.
In summary, being a new mom can be both a joyful and exhausting experience. From the overwhelming feelings of fatigue to the hilarious moments of parenthood, recognizing these signs can help you navigate this beautiful yet challenging phase of life.