Navigating Postpartum Insomnia - Rosie Davies-Smith
/Navigating Postpartum Insomnia
Becoming a mother in the midst of a global pandemic
When I imagined becoming a Mum, it never crossed my mind it would be during one of the most unprecedented times in history. Not one, but both of my daughters were born during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sloane's birth (February 2020) was relatively straightforward and despite being during a time of such widespread uncertainty, there was something quite nice about being in our own little bubble, at home and safe.
When Sloane was four months old I fell pregnant again and Isla arrived in March 2021. Throughout my pregnancy with Isla the rules surrounding COVID-19 had tightened a lot, which meant attending appointments and scans alone. In comparison to Sloane's birth, the second time around was not as straightforward and I experienced complications such as having my placenta surgically removed. Isla arrived after a long and difficult birth. Unfortunately, she had swallowed a lot of meconium during the labour and three hours later during a group ward discharge briefing for all the new mums, I looked at her cot and she was blue and struggling to breathe. The doctors and nurses were amazing and got her breathing again but Isla went on to have two more episodes, eventually they used a tube to clear her stomach.
Giving birth in lockdown and not being able to have my husband by my side during these episodes was extremely difficult, and in hindsight, the trigger for my postpartum insomnia. Having never experienced any mental health issues before becoming a Mum, insomnia was never on my radar. I'd seen people close to me suffer from anxiety and depression but I naively never thought not being able to sleep would progress into a mental illness.
Life changes: Relocating to Devon
I run my own business, PR Dispatch which is the UK's first affordable DIY PR membership platform. Lockdown for many businesses, mine included, saw new opportunities and changed the traditional 9-5 office based week. At PR Dispatch all of my team were able and happy to work remotely and flexibly, so we decided to do this on a permanent basis, while keeping our Peckham office for if the team ever want a change of scenery from WFH, and a place that we can all meet up. I had always dreamt of living by the sea, so when our dream house came up in Devon, my husband and I relocated 250 miles away from London. Alongside adapting to becoming a new Mum, I was also trying to juggle a huge house move, removals, paperwork, and all of the other stress and tiredness that comes with it!
With no family in Devon this was a big life change, for all of us, but we couldn't let the opportunity pass us by. It was a big risk, but undoubtedly the right decision. Having a small baby and another one on the way wasn't without tough times.
Navigating Postpartum insomnia
My insomnia began almost immediately after giving birth to Isla in March 2021. Isla had difficulties when feeding and would often cough and splutter due to reflux, each time taking me back to the moment in the hospital. As Isla grew out of the reflux, my body was still on auto pilot, pre-empting the noises of her waking up or coughing. I was lying awake from 2am every single night, and not getting back to sleep, it was debilitating. Trying to juggle running a business and childcare escalated the sleeplessness massively by the end of summer 2021. I had underestimated how my insomnia would evolve and after exhausting all of the ‘solutions’, sleep hygiene, sleep restriction, CBD oil etc. I was at breaking point and could no longer function.
I'm not ashamed to say this was one of the most challenging times of my life. Everyone can relate to the feeling of not being able to sleep, but insomnia seems to take a hold of your whole body, your days and nights. Being awake in the middle of the night is so lonely, dark and quiet. Your mind is racing and begging to allow you some sleep, you're frustrated with yourself because your body is so tired from carrying and feeding a baby that is now sleeping through the night but you are lying awake.
Eventually, I was diagnosed with chronic insomnia. It was after speaking to a doctor and learning how insomnia is classed as a mental health issue that I took a step back and realised I needed to make some serious life changes to battle the severe fatigue that I had almost come to terms with having to live with indefinitely. I started working with a hypnotherapist, we discussed the birth, the trigger, and how little time I took each day to just breathe. As a new Mum, I began to feel selfish taking time for myself, I was constantly thinking and worrying about everyone else with no thoughts for my own health. She taught me that we all have a 'stress bucket' and each day it is so important to empty this by walking, exercising or reading.
I also started taking brain supplements from Heights that made a massive difference to my sleep. Brain supplements give the brain the nutrients it needs in order to combat things like lethargy and anxiety which slow our bodies down and don’t let us perform to the best of our abilities; they contain vitamins and minerals which aim to improve focus, energy, mood, sleep and wellbeing.
By making these changes, my sleep isn't perfect but it's on a whole other level to what it was. If you are a new Mum or a business owner, going through something similar, my biggest piece of advice is don't be everything to everyone. It took me a long time to realise and train myself this but ultimately it is a recipe for mediocrity in both your personal and professional life.
Bio:
I am the founder of the UK’s first affordable PR platform PR Dispatch, dedicated to giving independent businesses the tools, confidence and contacts they need to DIY their own PR. I have successfully grown the business while relocating from South London to Devon, and being a mother to two young daughters, Sloane and Isla.
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