Thursday, April 8, 2010

The Miracle Happened - Now let's get some sleep!



Sleep Better Tonight!

How many hours of sleep did you get last night? Me?  I was not able to sleep at all.  This was one very emotional and exciting morning.  I rushed to the hospital at 12:30 AM (4/8/10) and sat up in a chair as I helplessly watched  Veronica bravely ride through her contractions  every 5 minutes, for a few hours before the pain got unbearable.  At about 2 AM an Epideral was given.  Later, the epideral stopped working.  At around 8 AM and many excruciating contractions later, the anesthesiologist came in to inject some stronger medication in order to ease the pushing pain and help move things along.  At 9 AM we began the actual delivery process and by 9:45 Frida Gutierrez was introduced to the world.  A very content and cute little baby girl was born!  Well not so little!  She weighed a little under 10 lbs (9 lbs 13 oz to be exact) and 21" long!  She has lots of black hair just like her Mommy;  and her cute little eyes look just like her grandma's! 
The Kaiser staff and midwives did a fantastic job of quickly removing the umbilical cord from the baby's neck and body.  She had it wrapped around her twice as she rocked and rolled inside of mommy.  The baby was brought to life and as her beautiful pastel skin color emerged, we knew that we had nothing to fear.   Mommy and baby are now resting quietly,  And me?  Well I am going to sleep!
For those of you that have trouble sleeping for other reasons, other than helping to deliver a baby....
 Loss of sleep  can take a toll on your health. What’s more, recent studies also show being sleep deprived can affect your ability to lose weight and keep it off. Making certain you clock in enough sleep each night should also be part of your routine. Getting the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep each night will not only help you stick to your healthy eating plan, but you’ll also combat stress-related weight gain. If counting sheep isn’t working for you, try these five tips to help you sleep better soon:
  1. Create a regular sleep routine. Stick to going to bed and getting up at the same time each day, even on the weekends. Some people find that setting a bedtime alarm as well as a morning alarm is a good reminder of when it’s time to go to sleep. You’ll find that once your body adjusts to a regular routine, you’ll start to wake up refreshed.
  2. Reserve your bed for sleeping and sex only. Avoid stressful, sleep-robbing activities, such as watching TV news or scary movies, (or paying bills!). Some people find that a hot bath or soothing music before bedtime helps. If insomnia does strike, leave the bed and walk around for a while.
  3. Don’t go to bed hungry. Enjoy a high-protein snack, such as, reduced-fat cheese, a slice of deli turkey, or reduced-fat yogurt and a few nuts before going to bed.
  4. Avoid caffeinated beverages or other foods containing caffeine after about noon, and limit alcohol in the evening. Caffeine can stay in your system for up to 24 hours, and while alcohol may make it easier to fall asleep initially, it also causes more frequent nighttime awakenings.
  5. Refrain from exercise three hours before bedtime.Regular exercise is encouraged during the day because it can give you more energy and help you sleep better at night, but it also releases the hormone epinephrine, which can make you more alert. That’s why it’s best to exercise earlier rather than later if you suffer from insomnia.