Hi all, I was just wondering if anyone else is afraid of not getting enough sleep after having their LO. I have hypothyroidism and I suspect that's one of the reasons I've been very tired for many years and the doc is still trying to find the right dosage of thyroxin to treat me with...whenever they up my dosage, I have soo much energy for 1-2 weeks, after which I become my sleepwalking self again.

Normally I need 10 hrs of sleep at night to feel good + I like napping as well...Ive tried coffee and energydrinks to feel better when Im very tired but they dont seem to do anything. How am I supposed to cope with a baby cause I cant obviously sleep this much anymore then??!!

Hun Im not going to lie, sleep deprivation is a terrible thing, to begin with.
I used to enjoy 12 hours plus sleep a night, in addition to a 2 hour nap of an afternoon; and I would list sleep as a hobby. Once my LO arrived (I naively thought he'd be a sleeper like his mummy), the sleep deprivation hit me like a truck. What happens though, is that when youre on your knees, fantasising about sleep and about to eat or inject coffee; you get like a 'second wind'. In reality this must be some sort of survival mechanism. It means that you adapt to less sleep, and feel okay again. Not to say you wouldnt love an uninterrupted night's sleep, but you can accept that you're not going to be that blessed.
Im not sure how the thyroid problem would complicate this, and I suggest that you feel comfortable with where youre at with that first before ttc. Hats off to you, at least youve got your head on your shoulders. I read the chapter on sleep deprivation and shrugged it off 'yeah, Ive pulled a few all nighters in my time, no prob'...bit me on the arse I can tell you.
We're ttc number 2 and I already fear the initial sleep dep again, but I know it will pass. I recommend this as a mantra plus coffee when you find your future self zombified xx

I totally hear you! I'm the same way - one of my big fears is the sleep deprivation. I too need A LOT of sleep - I have fibromyalgia/Chronic fatigue so sometimes my body just says 'enough' and I don't have a choice but to sleep.

People say you get used to it, but I assume that's the average/healthy person. I WILL be one of the people who sleeps when the baby sleeps, even if it means other things get a bit neglected for a while. I also have a large support system so I know if I need help (which I most probably will) I can reach out.

They say you can still get enough sleep with a baby, but it might be broken and weird hours. If you're willing to sleep during the day and let go of the 'small' stuff (dishes, laundry, etc) then i'm sure you'll be totally fine

i hate to say this but the first 2 months was ruff with me with sleep i breastfed so she was up every two hours

i was a zombie

it gets easier as they get older she sleeps from 8pm-8am so im thankful

My lo is 4 months and I am still sleep deprived

I have RLS, so the first 48 hrs after DD was born, I got literally no sleep at all, I was a miserable hag, and the first month following, if I was lucky I'd get 2 hrs a night and a few during the day. The worst part was when DD was asleep I couldn't sleep due to my condition. It wasn't until 3 months after that I could safely take my sleeping meds, now I get about 6 to 10 hrs of sleep a night, mostly because DD is a good sleeper, thank goodness, I got lucky with that. But seriously, if you all don't have RLS or insomnia, you all will be better off than I was those first few months

I worry about the sleep deprivation too. I function best with 9 hours of sleep and if I get too anxious or stressed, I often need more to relax if nothing else. I'm not technically hypothyroid, but my TSH is too high and bounces around. At last test it was 4.89. I'm on a low dose of syntheroid now to try to bring the reading down to 1-2. Apparently that's the best range for fertility. I wish you lots of luck with getting your levels under control. How long have you been trying to settle them? I think I read somewhere that it can take up to 6 months. I guess in some cases it's longer?

It must be terrifying if you need extra sleep anyway due to a medical condition, to be facing the prospect of a LO keeping you up all hours.
I can only tell you that, yes it's hard (even without a medical problem) but you do get through it. Make sure your partner is on board to help out as much as he can, accept any help offered, sleep when baby sleeps, and remember it does get better. You will be able to do it, cos you will love your LO and know that you have to get up and deal with them in the night and it's a different type of tiredness. That little person needs you so much in those first few weeks and months, it's tiring but there's something kinda lovely about it.

Yes, massively so, there is a reason it is used as a firm of torture. I was really blasé last time not realising what it was like, awful just bloody awful, I was breast feeding and my husband was away a lot, it's my biggest fear tbh but one of the hurdles you usually have to get over. So long as you have a supportive partner you'll be fine.

I'm not too worried about sleep deprivation - I'm up most nights anyway - must have some sort of insomnia... 5its worse when husband is home - when he's away during the week with work I sleep great haha! I did a stint of working 8.30am-5.30pm then 6.30pm-12.30am shifts daily for 8 weeks or more, had about 5 or 6 hours sleep most nights. I doubt husband will be getting up in the night so it will be down to me. Just another change to get used too. I dont have any exeperience with a medical condition - however hopefully by the time you conceive the docs will have you medication sorted for you.