Opening a new business, let alone a new concept is no easy task. But with a combined 30 years of Nursing experience and warm community support, LMS Wichita is doing just that! Sandy Schremmer, RN and daughter Rachael Eaves, RN are dedicated to helping postpartum families. This blog, LMS Wichita is Serious About Sleep shares their commitment to community.
LMS Wichita is Serious About Sleep
One of the ways Sandy and Rachael are showing their dedication to their local community is by offering 1 free night of sleep when 2 are purchased. Most sleep deprived folks feel pretty good after a night of uninterrupted rest, but the deep, restorative effects of sleep happen after at least 2 nights. And 3 nights truly makes a difference in keeping up mental and physical health! By this we mean that new parents can pay back their “sleep debt” as sleep strengthens the immune system, allows for optimal reaction times (meaning less chance of mishaps or accidents due to drowsy driving) and of course keeps energy up overall.
LMS Wichita is serious about sleep, and to show just how serious they are, they’re putting their money where their mouth is! Click here to get a FREE night of sleep after the purchase of 2!
That’s right! 1 FREE night of sleep when 2 are purchased! LMS Wichita is Serious About Sleep
LMS Wichita in the Community
Did you know the owners of LMS Wichita were recently featured on KWCH-TV? When asked why she wanted to open a night nanny business, Sandy said: You go into nursing to help people . That’s really where your mission is, knowing how much need there is out there and how much moms and families need that support just during those few months. It really tugs at my heart.
Rachael added that while the business is in it to help families sleep, and recover from childbirth, evidence-based education is also a needed service. She states: Nurses can be there to help with newborn sleep and with feeding. Whether that be breastfeeding or bottle feeding we are there to support. These services are especially helpful to first time parents and parents expecting twins and higher order multiples!
To learn more about how LMS Wichita is serious about sleep, you can read their bio here. Or watch the news piece above! Contact them anytime at letmommysleep.com/wichita.
The link between adults with sleep deprivation and postpartum depression has been proven over and over. According to the Sleep Research Society, women report “the highest levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms in early pregnancy and the lowest levels of social support.” Hormonal shifts are normal and expected after your newborn arrives but they should be monitored. This blog Sleep Deprivation and Postpartum Depression: Proven Tips to Help, describes tips to increase sleep and sleep quality. Use these tips to keep normal post-baby mood shifts from elevating into depression.
Sleep Deprivation and Postpartum Depression: Proven Tips to Help
More Than Mom: Depression Affects the Family
It’s important to note that the link between sleep and poor mental health outcomes affects not only the birthing mother’s mental health but the health of the family as well. Here’s what we mean:
Babies: Those experiencing postpartum depressive symptoms were less likely to place infants in safe sleeping positions. Additionally they are less likely to bring infants in for routine health visits, and to have infants fully immunized. (AAP)
Partners: Sleep problems may also contribute to the transmission of depression within a couple. “Mothers’ and fathers’ depressive symptoms were correlated with each other…” Further depression is associated with more depressive symptoms for both partners at all three assessments.
Community: Accidents, specifically automobile accidents are also more likely due to drowsy driving. This is true for anyone who’s sleep deprived, not just new parents.
Sleep Deprivation and Postpartum Depression: Proven Tips to Help
Practice Good Sleep Hygiene…when you can!
Basic sleep hygiene is a great foundation for sleep for everyone. Parents of newborns may not be able to do all of these activities but try to include as many as possible into your day:
Be consistent: This is the hardest of course but when you can, go to bed at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning.
Have a good set-up: your bedroom should be quiet, dark, relaxing, and at a comfortable temperature.
Remove electronic devices: Remove the temptation to watch TV, use a computer and scroll your phone. Blue light from tablets, phones and computers suppresses the production of melatonin. Melatonin is a natural hormone released in the evening to help you feel tired and ready for sleep.
Keep your diet in check: Avoid large meals, caffeine, and alcohol before bedtime.
Try to get exercise: Being physically active during the day can help you fall asleep more easily at night.
How to Switch Gears when you’re Overtired
For many of us, the feeling of being “on” as a new parent and the adrenaline that comes with it hinders our natural sleep cycles. So we can’t sleep when we’re supposed to because our bodies are trained to be on alert for baby’s needs. Here’s what you can do to facilitate sleepiness when you’re overtired:
Meditate – Here are the basic steps of meditation:
Find a quiet area. Sit or lie down, depending on what feels most comfortable. Lying down is preferable at bedtime.
Close your eyes and breathe slowly. Inhale and exhale deeply. Focus on your breathing.
If a thought pops up, let it go and refocus on your breathing.
Meditate…with a little help!: It’s okay if it’s hard to practice the steps above. Mediation apps like Calm or Insight Timer are free or low-cost. They can help your brain switch from alert to calm.
Try a Breathing Method like the 4:7:8 Technique. Here’s how:
Inhale through your nose for four counts.
Hold your breath for seven counts.
Exhale through your mouth for eight counts.
Divide and Conquer!
This is perhaps the easiest and most effective way for both parents to get sleep!
Swap night time care duties with your partner – You can care for baby in shifts. Parent A is on from 9pm – whenever baby gets up overnight, then parent B is on from the end of that wake-up til morning. Better yet, do a 3 nights on/3 nights off schedule. You may miss your partner but remember this routine it is only temporary. You’ll lower your risk of postpartum depression and keep your immune system strong by getting blocks of deep. restorative sleep.
What if I’m Nursing?: If you’re breastfeeding during the night, simply stay in bed to nurse while your partner does all other care.
Accepting help is NORMAL! – Friends, neighbors and family can provide child care relief, whether they act as a night nurse, or even if it’s just for an hour or 2 for you to get a nap.
Thank you to Jordan Seidel, CLC and owner of Let Mommy Sleep, Las Vegas. for writing and presenting this article. It was presented at the Nevada Maternal and Child Health Coalition ‘s recent mental health symposium.If you ever have questions or need overnight support, contact us here. If you’re having thoughts that scare you, call or text 988, or contact the National Maternal Health Hotline at 833.9HELP4MOMS.
Sleep Deprivation & Postpartum Depression: Proven Tips to Help
Sleep Deprivation and Postpartum Depression: Proven Tips to Help – Have a Plan & Preps Before Baby Arrives
We’ve all heard that we should meal plan and try to outsource household tasks. And the reason we’ve all heard it because it’s really great advice! Here is a more detailed list of what can help in your first weeks and months home so you aren’t tempted to use sleep time on everyday tasks:
Make you own frozen or ready-to-eat food favorites before baby arrives.
Have a “go-to” list. Write down the top 5 items or tasks that need to be done consistently. Laundry, wiping down the counters, vacuuming, running to the store for food, diapers and wipes…whatever you might need. Then when a neighbor or friend asks “what can I do?” and you know there’s a million things but your brain can’t think of one, hand them the task list and empower them to do what needs to be done.
If you have a toddler or older child, stash away a few surprises for them like their favorite treats or inexpensive toys. There will be a time when the newborn and toddler both need you at the same time, or you want to give your older child more attention than you’re able. This is when you can whip out a special new toy for the toddler to keep them busy and allow them to know you are always thinking of them too!
If you have trusted adults close by that can help, put them on a schedule. Knowing that Grandma comes every Monday and Tuesday means you can predictably plan outings, appointments and down time.
Have the tough conversation with your partner about who-does-what in those first months home with baby. If you’re nursing it’s important that an adult takes care of you while you take care of the baby. Some things to consider might be: do you both have family leave? Neither of you? Is there family close by who can step in periodically? How will the nights be divided up? Clear expectations of each partner at the beginning can make adjustments down the road easier.
Updated February, 26, 2023 – Evidence-based websites can be hard to find, especially for expecting and new parents inundated with opinions and advice on “What’s Best for Your Baby.” Add in a pandemic and constantly evolving news, and parents can access thousands of websites with conflicting information. Below are The Best Newborn Care Websites You’ve Never Heard Of. These are our night nurses’ favorite evidence-based sites for newborn and postpartum care to help parents separate baby care fact from fiction.
The Best Newborn Care Websites You’ve Never Heard Of
TheBest Newborn Care Websites You’ve Never Heard Of
For Your First Week Home
Newt – The Newborn Weight Tool is an online calculator that “allows pediatric healthcare providers and parents to see how a newborn’s weight during the first days and weeks following childbirth.” If you’re concerned about your newborn’s weight loss this tools tracks growth to identify weight loss or weight gain issues.
The National Perinatal Association has compiled essential information and resources for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Info is for parents, healthcare providers and educators in the perinatal space. COVID19 information is continually updated, as well as listings of medical help, community assistance, and mental health resources.
LactMed Database – Searchable database of medications that are safe to take while pregnant or nursing. If a medicine is deemed unsafe, the site suggests alternatives. All data are derived and updated from scientific literature and fully referenced.
From seasonal allergy meds to depression and anxiety medications, the answer to if your medicine is safe is usually yes. But the National Institute for Health’s LactMed Database tells exactly medications are safe to take while breastfeeding and which are not. For medications which may be contraindicated during nursing, LactMed names safe alternatives.
Postpartum Support International trains and connects mental health professionals to those in need of postnatal mental health support. Use these resources for dads and partners and non-binary parents, as well as moms. You can receive support online or in person.
Getting Ready to Go Home from the NICU– While it’s not uncommon for some babies to need of a little extra time in the hospital, having your baby stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) means needing extra support and information. The March of Dimes website provides step by step information so parents know exactly what they can expect when transitioning from hospital to home.
Our Night Nurses Top Newborn and Postpartum Care Websites
The Best Newborn Care Websites You’ve Never Heard Of: Breastfeeding
It’s hard to pick one breastfeeding resource when there are so many wonderful sites out there. Two of the most highly respected and comprehensive are KellyMom.com and La Leche League.
However, there’s a lesser known site that is all about the “how-to’s” of nursing – The International Breastfeeding Centre’s Breastfeeding Videos. These are real-life, instructional videos to help with breastfeeding. Demonstrations of what good drinking looks like and how to distinguish “nibbling” from efficient nursing are just 2 examples.
The Best Newborn Care Websites You’ve Never Heard Of:Soothing and Sleeping
Soothing: This list of 12 Soothing Techniques can help you find the perfect way to help baby feel comfortable, pass gas or get lulled to sleep. Even when attempting every soothing method, sometimes babies just cry. Remember that your baby’s preferences may change so a checklist can help when a method that used to work, doesn’t anymore.
Sleep: The Baby Sleep category on the LMS website contains age-appropriate sleep schedules and a step by step outline for babies to sleep through the night. We also have answers to frequently asked questions about napping, sleep cycles and more.
Colic and Crying: PurpleCrying.Info helps parents understand that “colic” is actually a very normal developmental phase. Knowing that the crying can be somewhat predictable can help ease frustration. This site also has tools to help if you’re having extreme frustration or thoughts that scare you.
In addition to these websites, you can always visit our Newborn and Postpartum Care Resource Center. This is our continually updated guide to answer new parents’ frequently asked questions. You can also sign up for personal support. We’re here for you in-home or virtually.
The Best Newborn Care Websites You’ve Never Heard Of
One of the questions every parent of multiples gets asked is: “What do you do when the babies cry at the same time?” Below is, Crying it Out: Parents Edition, a real answer from Denise Iacona Stern. Denise’s newborn twins arrived when her baby boy was just 17 months old.
Crying it Out: Parents Edition
I will never forget when my sweet-natured 22 month- old son had night terrors and my twins were 4 months old; still teeny girls getting up overnight to eat. One night after soothing my son back to sleep, he got out of his toddler bed and inadvertently locked himself in his room. When he realized what had happened, he started screaming with fright. Naturally, this was the exact moment the twins loudly awakened for their 1am feeding.
And of course, the little key we use to pop open locked doors had fallen behind the doorframe.
And of course, the back-up key fell behind the other doorframe.
And of course, my husband was traveling for work.
Now – all three of my babies were screaming and crying. Screaming from fright, from hunger, from confusion. They were screaming from not knowing where mom was or if I would ever come to comfort them. Then, they realized their siblings were screaming which led to more hysteria. Three children in a red alert screaming panic in the middle of the night is a very special brand of parental torture I don’t wish anyone to know.
So what door do you choose?
Help the anxiety-riddled toddler with no quick way to get him out of his room? Or begin the hour long cycle of feeding the frantic infant twins?
I chose to run to the garage and dump random drawers until I found something to break my son out of his room. Then, I held him as tightly as I could while I did the world’s worst job of preparing two bottles for two babies with one hand. I am not sure how long the house resonated with screams at 1 am. But I do know that if anyone’s brain cells were destroyed from excessive crying, they were all surely mine.
I share this with you because the “crying it out” decision is one most parents struggle with at some point. It is a completely personal choice. But for parents with multiple children, the decision is sometimes made for us because we have more kids than hands. Despite our best efforts, crying it out happens at night and during the day, and our kids are just as loved and well-adjusted as everyone else’s.
So you’re saying they should cry it out?
This is not to say “Yay for crying it out!” It’s to tell moms, that for every handful of times baby has to cry because you are having a crisis with another child or you yourself are in crisis, you should not negate the40 million other times you respond swiftly and efficiently. Otherwise every mother of multiples, every parent with 5 or 6 kids, and every mom that has to use the bathroom occasionally would be raising emotionally damaged children.
A six-year study published in the American Academy of Pediatrics Journal states, “There was no evidence of differences between intervention and control families for any outcome.” NPR also cited this study and other science based information in 2019. Guess what this means? Whatever you choose for your family is the RIGHT decision. While the data shows that crying it out does not cause harm to developmentally ready babies, I think we can all agree this doesn’t mean we dump the child in the crib unprepared for sleep and walk out.
So, what’s the best way to teach a child to sleep through the night? By making educated decisions that parents feel are right for their baby and their family. Trust your intuition and do what feels right because that is really all we parents have. Even science proves it.
3 under 2
it Out: Parents Edition – Sleep Training Do’s and Don’ts
If you do choose to sleep train, there are step-by step guides and schedules. As a general rule of thumb here are some do’s and don’ts:
DO:
Get Pediatrician’s Input: Consult with your pediatrician during your baby’s 4-month well-check to discuss their readiness for sleep training. It’s essential to have professional guidance and ensure that your baby is developmentally ready for any changes in their sleep habits. It’s also crucial to be assured your baby doesn’t to wake to east for at least 6-8 hours.
Make Gradual Changes: Once you’ve gotten approval from your pediatrician, a gradual approach to sleep training is often recommended. This means gradually weaning off overnight feeds and establishing distinct daytime and nighttime sleep routines over 7-10 days. Longer is fine too. The point of gradual change is to make adjustment from eating over the course of the night, to stopping feeds less shocking.
Follow Baby’s Cues: Your child doesn’t care about The Schedule. If they are hungry or uncomfortable, it’s perfectly fine to feed and soothe them.
DON’T
Use this or other blogs as Medical Advice: Your child’s primary care physician needs to be part of any decisions regarding sleep training or changes to their feeding and sleep habits.
Make Quick Changes: While some people opt for “cold turkey”, it is generally recommended to follow a gradual plan that takes about 10-14 days. Gradual transitions can be gentler on both parents and babies.
Force Rigid Routines: If napping or feeding becomes a constant struggle or fight, it’s time to explore alternative approaches. Be flexible and responsive and don’t rule out illness, teething or other physical needs that are out of your baby’s control.
Updated, March, 13, 2023 – There are books, sleep consultants and time-worn advice out there to help babies sleep through the night. But the same questions still keep coming up over and over! Most of this is because, humans are all different but in this blog, Night Nurses Answer Your Infant Sleep Questions, we’ll do our best to give you concrete answers.
well rested mom and baby
Night Nurses Answer Your Infant Sleep Questions
1. Why does my baby wake through the night when I know s/he’s not hungry?
All humans wake through the night and babies are no different! While there are many reasons to awaken, wake-ups usually fall into 1 of 2 categories: physical and habitual. Again, this is the same for newborns and infants.
Physical Discomfort: Illness, teething, heavy diaper or tummy pain.
When physical things happen outside of baby’s control parents need to step in to help. For example, if baby has congestion or ear infection, laying horizontally makes fluid in the inner ear or chest settle. This makes getting comfortable very difficult for baby. Responding to baby quickly, and for as long as baby needs is recommended for any wake ups due to pain or discomfort. Physical wake-ups are part of parenting and any kind of sleep training needs to wait until baby is in healthy place.
Hunger (also physical):
We cannot “train” a baby not to feel hunger. For this reason, it’s vital that parents know how much their baby has eaten during the day. Parents need to know how many ounces of milk/food baby has had between waking for the day and one last small feed at 10pm. If the amount of ounces is the same or more than what’s recommended by the pediatrician than it’s okay not to feed. If the amount is less, than baby of course needs to be fed.
Habit:
For healthy babies who have never slept through the night (and we are not saying whether they should or shouldn’t) wakefulness overnight usually means they are simply repeating their 3-4 hour daytime schedule. The daytime schedule of being awake for a few hours and then going to sleep for a few hours simply keeps repeating. For parents wishing to increase baby’s sleep time in this case, gently weaning overnight feeds and increasing daytime feeds can help. More on that below:
Night Nurses Answer Your Infant Sleep Questions – Overnights
2. How do I know when to get rid of the swaddle?
When baby is rolling onto her stomach, the swaddle becomes a hazard. As the AAP and other authorities say, in order to be sure baby is sleeping safely, Stop swaddling as soon as your baby shows any signs of trying to roll over. For many babies this can be as early as 2 months old.
Additionally, when baby is consistently “busting out” in the late 3rd month or month 4, he’s telling you he does not need the swaddle anymore. To eliminate the swaddle parents can simply go cold turkey or take a gradual step-down approach where we allow one arm out for several nights, then both arms and then eventually no swaddle at all.
Eliminating the swaddle -like all changes – can happen in 1 of 2 ways, cold turkey or by gradual removal. Cold turkey needs no explanation but gradual removal works like this:
You can “wean” the swaddle by allowing one arm out for a few nights. Then wrap baby with both arms out but with gentle pressure remaining on the abdomen. After a few nights of that, baby will not need the swaddle at all.
One note- Weighted sleep sacs are often sold as a comfort item for baby sleep after getting rid of the swaddle. You should note that weight sleep sacs are not recommended. They have not been tested for safety and inhibit babies’ natural movements.
How to wean the swaddle!
3. How do I eliminate overnight feeds?
Anytime we’re helping baby -and well, anyone really- learn a new way to do things, we have two choices: cold turkey or gradual removal. Cold turkey certainly cuts to the chase, but the gradual approach can be much more gentle and less jarring for baby.
With feeding, this means that we can eliminate milk/formula altogether between certain hours. Or we can gradually wean the amount taken in during these hours. For nursing moms, gradual weaning is essential…it’s more gentle for baby and also gives mom’s body time to adjust to needing to produce less milk overnight.
To wean feeds overnight, simply give ½ ounce less in his bottle over the course of 2-3 nights.
If breastfeeding weaning should start during the day. Our RN Cathy advises: “Start weaning with the second feeding of the day since your breasts will be pretty full first thing in the morning. Then stop a feeding every couple of days and give a bottle until the last feeding was at night. Once you notice no milk in their mouth after feeding, that’s it.”
Weaning will not be a perfectly linear process but to begin, you can stop the nursing session once baby has finished consistently sucking. This will most likely be trial and error and not perfect but that is normal.
4. What about the pacifier? How do I get rid of that?
When it comes to the pacifier we can “cold turkey” it or gradually remove the pacifier after less and less time per pacifier “session”. For sleep training, it’s typically recommended to remove pacifier when baby stops sucking for a few moments. You can then repeat the removal for a few minutes until the pacifier is eventually not needed.
5. My pediatrician said baby is ready to sleep 6-8 hours without feeding. How do I get my baby to sleep through the night?
Second, here is the abbreviated version of helping a baby sleep through the night independently:
Give consistent daytime feeding of 4 larger feeding sessions during the day of 6-7 oz per feed, plus a dreamfeed of 2-3 oz = 28oz. This is usually enough to fill baby’s belly to sleep through the night. But again, the decision really depends on your own baby.
Wean overnight feeds while increasing daytime feeds.
Implement formal sleep training method (described in the linked blog above)
Once again, sleeping through the night can be a biiiiig subject. If you would like help talking through what’s happening with your baby specifically, you can always contact us as a sounding board!
Night Nurses Answer Your Infant Sleep Questions, But You’re the Expert on Your Baby
There are a LOT of right answers to what works to make a happy and peaceful family! If your family is happy and safe, then you’re doing it right!
