Sleep

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Sleep becomes such a huge part of our lives with a new baby. When we feel like we don't know what to do and just want answers we often look to the experts for advice. The problem is that with every sleep book there is always one person saying the opposite of someone else. One mother, Ava Neyer, points this out in her amusing blog about sleep advice. I think the take came home message is that we want to focus on reading our own children more than reading a sleep book. 

"Don’t let your baby sleep too long, except when they’ve been napping too much, then you should wake them. Never wake a sleeping baby. Any baby problem can be solved by putting them to bed earlier, even if they are waking up too early. If your baby wakes up too early, put them to bed later or cut out a nap. Don’t let them nap after 5 p.m. Sleep begets sleep, so try to get your child to sleep as much as possible. Put the baby to bed awake but drowsy. Don't wake the baby if it fell asleep while nursing."

http://www.today.com/parents/exhausted-new-moms-hilarious-take-expert-sleep-advice-goes-viral-6C9559908

Mama Bears Picnic

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Come check out a Mama Bears Picnic at Brooklyn Heights Prenatal on Wednesdays from 2-5pm.  A great way to get out of the house with your baby and be in a comfortable environment with other new moms. I will be there 4/9/14 presenting on some of the new struggles that come with motherhood. 

www.mamabearspicnic.com

Here is the information:

Mama Bears Picnic invites all recent mothers and their babies to our Wednesday afternoon get togethers. This week our guest presenter will be Well Being Therapist, Flora Margolis. Flora is a practicing therapist in these Brooklyn neighborhoods, with a specialty in the issues that concern new mothers. Tomorrow her discussion will focus on: struggling with your new identity as a mom, coping with no sleep, relationship changes, and work/home life balance. She will address questions and subjects from the group and offer a brief and useful “mindfulness” practice.

Mama Bears is held every Wednesday at Area Yoga, 144 Montague St, 2nd floor. 

Doors open at 2pm and presentation will begin at 2:30. Bring your lunch, Babybear, newborn through pre-crawl, and all you need for an afternoon out. Juice will be provided. Babywear is preferred, but some stroller space is available. 

Happy New Year!

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It has been a while since I have posted as I have been focusing on my own family. Now a mother of two, I am reminded yet again how important it is to get the support you need during those difficult first few months of being home with a baby. So many changes happening so quickly that it can be overwhelming. The lack asleep alone can be a strong trigger for anxiety and depression. If we are making new years resolutions, I hope one of them can be to make sure we take time for ourselves so we can better care for our children. Don't hesitate to reach out for the help you need.

Mindfulness for Moms

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Mindfulness is such a powerful tool for new mothers. Remember to stay in the present moment, be nonjudgmental of yourself and others, and observe your experience with letting it be as it is without struggling against it. A mindful mom is able to find a willingness to meet things as they are and better able to respond to situations as they are rather than reacting to your desire for them to be different.

On motherhood...

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I appreciate how this article gives meaning to the sometimes tedious work of a mother.

"So, mothers, the next time someone asks, "What did you do today?" Please take the time to answer accurately. You did not "clean the bathroom." This response would be like Annie Leibovitz saying, "Oh, I stood around and pushed some buttons." No. Today you did the holy work of raising human beings. With each word spoken or unspoken, with each offering of forgiveness, you show your children what it means to be brave and kind. The mundane becomes holy, the ordinary extraordinary."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/glennon-melton/momotony-and-sacred-work-_b_3359649.html

ADHD and Sleep Deprivation

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"Diagnosing the Wrong Deficit"

This article is a good reminder about how important sleep is for our children. An interesting connection is made between A.D.H.D. and sleep deprivation. We often see how a sleep deprived child appears hyperactive and unfocused, two similar symptoms found in A.D.H.D. These same symptoms can appear in adults suffering from sleep disorders. So just as we pay attention to how much sleep our children are getting make sure you are doing the same to take care of yourself.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/28/opinion/sunday/diagnosing-the-wrong-deficit.html?_r=0&pagewanted=all