Encouragement: pregnancy tired is worse

Hi! I have a 9 week old and as I'm coming out of the newborn stage, I stand by pregnancy tired as being worse. I spent a lot of time on this sub while pregnant so just thought I'd share my experience.

In three stages of life I've been more tired than the last 9 weeks.

1. When I was in college, working two jobs, and still going out. I would cry when my alarm when off. I'd take naps ANYWHERE, including on the toilet at work.

2. First trimester of pregnancy. I'd be ready for a nap at 11am. I'd fall asleep on the couch at 9pm. The fatigue was unreal.

3. Late third trimester of pregnancy. I had terrible hip pain and insomnia. I couldn't get comfortable, couldn't roll over in bed without help, and on top of it, was caring for a dying dog who didn't make it to meeting my baby.

Compared to this, newborn tired has been so manageable!!! Three things have made it manageable.

1. Baby is not a champion sleeper but he's a predictable sleeper. I recommend tracking baby's routine not to stress you out, but to find patterns to support their sleep. My baby is fussy in the morning but takes a 2hr nap every afternoon. Knowing that's coming helps me all morning!

2. I breastfeed/pump don't pump overnight. I breastfeed when he wakes up but I'm not additionally pumping. This means I don't have to get out of bed, since we have a bedside bassinet. Instead I pump right before I go to sleep and first thing in the morning. This makes enough milk for occasional bottles and a freezer stash.

3. Since I breastfeed mostly, my husband doesn't do much at night, but if the baby doesn't go down easy after a feed, the baby is his job and I go back to sleep.

Everyone and every baby is different! But if you're pregnant and exhausted and wondering how it could possibly get worse, it might just get better!