get more sleep after kids

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My first week with Blaire as a newborn was such a blur. I was so tired. My body was drained from my C Section. We had endless visitors. This time, everything is different. Whether it’s because my recovery is easier since I didn’t have to have a C Section. Or because we’ve had less visitors stopping by. Or because I’m getting more sleep at night than I was with Blaire. Or… if it’s because having a three year old (#threenager) at home means our newborn seems like the easy one. ;) 

During this exciting time adjusting to a mom of two, I have done some things differently from my first time around and I’m happy to say I’m getting WAY more sleep than I got with Blaire. And I wanted to share them, with the hopes they might help you newborn (or soon-to-be newborn) mamas, too.

4 Things I’m Doing Differently as a Third Time Mom (and getting more sleep!)

Pumping into bottles, then storing my breastmilk in bags
I can’t tell you how much time I spent washing bottles when Blaire was an infant. I would always pump into bottles and the combine them into one bottle, and store them in the fridge. With my second and third babies, I pumped into bottles, but stored the milk, flat, in bags. (If you’re freezing expressed milk, it needs to be in a bag.)

Nursing Overnight
With Blaire, she lost too much weight in the hospital. She also didn’t latch well. I was so freaked out and would stress out when she was crying and I couldn’t get her to latch, that I just started exclusively pumping when she was about 4 days old. I had to pump every 3 hours overnight or I’d wake up engorged and in pain.

Letting Dad Help
When Blaire was little, I was super controlling. I had to know exactly how much she ate, how many times she had a wet/dirty diaper. I wanted to wash her bottles and my pump parts. This time around, everything is different. Whether it’s because I am more confident in my ability to care for a newborn or the fact that I have two kids to spend time with, I am happy to let Jason help. Whether it’s him feeding Ben a bottle when he gets home from work, him changing the overnight diapers or just stopping at the store on his way home from work, letting him help out makes things so much easier on me.

Eating Well
Any mom knows there are days when you are just so busy, you forget to stop and eat. If you’re anything like me, nursing makes you hungry. As in you’re hungry all. the. time. And if you’re nursing, eating a well-rounded diet and drinking tons of water is so important to keeping your supply up. I struggled with my supply most of the 9 months I nursed Blaire. So I am doing everything I can to be able to supplement less with formula this time. To help me avoid falling into the dreaded, junk-food-filled “new mom diet,” I’m keeping our freezer stocked with VitaTops. They’re the perfect way to indulge without guilt.

What tips do you have for adjusting to life with a newborn? Or life as a mom of two? Let me know in a Comment! xo