Today I am so excited to welcome a guest blogger! I am also over the moon to introduce a mummy, also facing difficult issues with a newborn. I can relate to this. My guest blogger today has turned a negative experience of her own into something to help others. All the details you need to connect with Lauryn can be found at the end of this post.
POST UPDATED 30 July 2022
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Let’s dive into why a sleep routine is important
I felt very ready to have a baby in every sense. I was 32 years old and financially secure. It was great that I had a successful teaching career of ten years and my relationship was strong.
As a confessed perfectionist, when we fell pregnant, I did all of the homework to be fully prepared. We did an online hypnobirthing course together. I planned my drug-free, calm labour. In addition, I planned to breathe the baby out (LOL) simply. I also knew all there was to know about the fourth trimester. I was, of course going to breastfeed. It was on the agenda to get started early with a bedtime routine. Additionally, I planned to be back in the gym from six weeks postnatal. I also signed up for lots of baby classes with my NCT friends.
I had all of the right things to ensure a sound night’s sleep for our baby. The right clothes, crib, mattress, baby monitor, and dream sheep to get her sleeping easily. You name it, we had it.
Finally, eight days after my due date, I started feeling labour pains. My feelings were weirdly nervous and excited. I just could not wait to meet this baby I felt so connected to during the pregnancy. Preparing, I calmly got my hypnobirthing tools ready. Bouncing on my ball, candles lit, and a comedy video, had me feeling prepared.
My labour did not go as planned. After 30 hours, I ended up having an emergency C-section and my daughter came out with suspected sepsis and was whisked straight off to neonatal care.
Once I got home, all the planning we had done during pregnancy felt pointless. I felt beyond unprepared for this responsibility. Breastfeeding was not working for us and I felt like the ultimate failure in getting the formula out. My daughter had classic colic and cried for 3-6 hours every evening. It was exhausting and I felt awful I was unable to console her.
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The anxiety set in
How had I gone from feeling as if I knew exactly what to expect, to this? I realised that one thing no one had told me might come with new motherhood. Anxiety.
I have never been an overly anxious person, but all of a sudden every aspect of motherhood was anxiety-inducing. Breastfeeding, sleep, guests coming over, leaving the house. All of it. My plans to go to classes and groups were far too big for me to face and I was so anxious about guests coming in case she would cry and I would not be able to settle her.
How lockdown impacted the situation
Eight weeks after she was born, we were plunged into the very first lockdown. This was great for me because it meant I didn’t have to face my anxiety about going out or guests coming over. Although in hindsight, there were negative aspects, because it didn’t give me a chance to talk to professionals, as medical visits and access to health visitors had ceased.
To regain control, I started a very rigid sleep routine with my little one. Every nap had to be to the minute of my new programme. The sleep environment had to be perfect. If it ever went out of the window, it was a huge stress for me and could ruin my entire lockdown day.
Light at the end of the tunnel
Needless to say, I realised it was time to do some mental digging and see what was going on. I opened up to friends who had suffered postnatally and searched for information online. After thinking about it, I eventually concluded that anxiety was linked to birth trauma. I had not given myself the chance to go over my labour or the fact she was taken straight from me due to being ill upon arrival.
Once I did a little work on myself through the lockdown, the pressure I’d put myself under started to lift. I introduced yoga, meditation, and journaling into my routine.
Turning a negative into a positive
I eased up a little on the sleep routine and now two years down the line I have trained to become a sleep consultant to work with families on gentle sleep schedules and training, to cause the least anxiety possible.
If anyone out there is new to this parenting gig and finding things tough, open up. Talk it out when you’re ready and know that this storm will pass and get better. More beautiful days are coming your way.
Lauryn and her little one
Angelcare were fantastic for all of our baby’s needs when we had a newborn. Check them out.
More details on how to contact Lauryn
Lauryn has worked as a full-time teacher for 10 years, teaching Drama and English in both primary and secondary settings. Since having her first child, Eliza, she realised the importance of sleep for well-being and this led to her training to become a sleep consultant in Summer 2021. Lullaby Lauryn launched in October and she can’t wait to help as many families as possible improve their sleep.
You can find her website here
She can also be contacted on Instagram and Facebook.
Final thoughts
I hope you enjoyed reading this guest post about why a sleep routine is important.
Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments below and let me know whether you’ve checked out Lauryn’s amazing website.
This was a great post, so many new mums feel so pressured to be perfect and feel shame if they are anything but. The truth is no one really knows what they’re doing, and speaking to others is definitely the best way t get through all the anxiety and stress.
I totally agree with this! I just don’t understand why there is so much pressure. We all need to talk about the realities of motherhood more 🙂
I admire any parents who go through setting up a sleep routine and it seems like something that can be a bit tricky initially (I don’t have children of my own). I will share this with my loved ones who need a little guidance — thanks for sharing!
I am glad the post was helpful for your loved ones. It can be a tricky time.
As someone without kids, I would never have thought about half of this. It really goes to show how out of the loop we can be when it comes to the needs of both children and their mothers/fathers. It’s not that we don’t think, it’s because we don’t have experience.
Exactly. With anything in life, I don’t think you really learn until you have been put in that situation yourself. But at the same time, it’s great to be aware of other peoples’ struggles.
Before having a baby, I didn’t realise all these things would become an issue. I am still learning each day!
I agree! Newborns, toddlers, and young kids thrive on routine. There’s comfort and control knowing what comes next. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I totally agree. I think comfort is important. They are looking for reassurance from someone.
Great post! I can imagine that a sleeping routine is so important for a young one, and other parents will find this so helpful x
I agree this post will be helpful to so many people. I guess babies need a routine because they don’t know any different and they are constantly learning about the world around them.
This was a super helpful blog post, thanks for sharing! I’m currently 8 week pregnant so have all this to look forward to!
I am glad you found the post helpful.
Good luck with your pregnancy journey. Congratulations!