Q Caring for the baby alone and not getting a wink of sleep has become my daily life. Does lack of sleep make postpartum depression worse? What is the best way to rest?
A Sleep deprivation is one of the biggest factors that worsen postpartum depression. You need a realistic sleep strategy: sleep when the baby sleeps, and share nighttime feedings if possible.
Detailed Answer
Sleep deprivation directly reduces the ability to regulate emotions, making it a core factor that worsens postpartum depression. Securing 4 to 5 hours or more of continuous sleep is ideal, and the most realistic method is to close your eyes together when the baby naps. If your spouse or family is available, it also helps to share one nighttime feeding, or to take turns putting the baby back to sleep after feeding. Please remember that a mother getting rest creates a better environment for the baby than a perfectly kept house.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
Korean medicine regards adequate sleep and rest as preconditions for the recovery of qi and blood. Dongjedang uses spirit-calming (ansin) formulas that settle the Heart-spirit to help with falling asleep itself, and emphasizes that deep sleep is the most powerful tonic for replenishing qi and blood and restoring the Heart-spirit.
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