Any Tips for New Moms on Nightshift?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Birth center, LDRP, L&D, PP, nursing education.

I've worked nights for 2.5 years, so I know how to sleep during the day. My baby is 5 months old, my husband is VERY helpful, and we'd utilize daycare so I can sleep.

Any tips or tricks for how to work three 12-hour shifts with an infant?

OP thank you so much for asking this. I am also wondering how you moms do it! We'd like to have a baby, but I am worried about the 12 hour shifts! So long!

I am wondering how long most new moms take off before going back?

How is it working 12 hours with a new baby?

Tips? Advice? I feel like we waited until after nursing school, waited to make it my first nursing job, well now what are we waiting for?

Specializes in ICU.

I did it. I used daycare so I could sleep. My exH left me when our daughter was 6 months old. it was hard, I was so exhausted even though he watched her 2 nights out fo the 3 I worked.

My suggestion is to never attempt to stay awake with them after a nigth shift or just sleep when they nap. It's still not enough sleep. I stopped night shifts in Oct when my daughter was 3. I couldn't do it anymore.

If you have adequate support it works because you only have to work 3 days.

I recently went 8:30 to 5 (or 8-6 because I am working my ass off as a new manager) and the 5 days a week is harder rather than easier for me! I miss 12 hour shifts.

Specializes in CVICU.

No tricks with this one. I been on nightshift since August and I am strongest when I sleep from 10am to 530pm consistently. If thats not an option than atleast get home and sleep for 4 hours. Maybe from 10-2. That way you can play with your baby till 10am after you get home and you can be with baby after 2 pm. On that day you will obviously go to sleep early. Trick is to not get too comfortable sleeping at night. You want to do your main sleeping during day and only take 1-2 hour naps at night maybe when you put your baby down for the first time. Also, since your baby is so young you will be able to do stuff for her when she crys at night and your awake.

Specializes in Pediatrics.

Welcome to the world of sleep deprivation

!!! After not being very successful in working nights and raising an infant (who is now 11), there are a few things I would have done differently:

Invest in some paid child care. As much as my mom was helpful, it's never enough. You need to know that you have a business relationship with someone who is going to ensure that you are functional when you need to be. There were many times where my mom thought a" couple hours of sleep" was all I needed. Mom, try going to bed at 10pm and waking up at midnight, then being up for another 16-24!

The other thing: if someone will be watching the baby in the house, it makes it a bit more difficult. You can hear baby, and baby (when he gets older) knows mommy is in the house. See if you can schedule activities for baby outside the house (gymboree, library), for whomever is watching him.

One last thing: the greatest invention ever is the gate that links together to form a "corral" :) if I absolutely couldn't keep my eyes open, I knew she was safe in there. Often times I would curl up in there with her!

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