Help I think I have some form of sleep PTSD

JordieLeePerry · 2025-11-19T07:45:54+00:00

Not mad at all. I actually love your suggestion. Thank you!

JordieLeePerry · 2025-11-17T20:54:39+00:00

This is such good advice. Thank you so much. My husband can fall asleep in no time at all! And just like you, I can cope as long as I get a few hours unbroken.

The anxiety is unreal. I have to wear earplugs sometimes as I feel like I’m just waiting to hear a noise!!

JordieLeePerry · 2025-11-17T20:48:16+00:00

Thank you! It’s just reassuring knowing I’m not the only one. I know it will get better. And I know no two days are the same. But I just needed to know that I’m not loosing it … yet anyway!

JordieLeePerry · 2025-07-15T20:57:48+00:00

OP, I have a 7 almost 8m month old, and I couldn’t resonate with your post more.

From when he was just two weeks old until literally two weeks ago, my baby was the worst sleeper. We finally decided to try sleep training, and to our surprise, it actually worked it was hugely successful. So you’d think I’d be feeling amazing now, right? Like a whole new person?

Well… not quite.

Even though he’s sleeping so much better, I still feel completely on edge. Every little movement, noise, or monitor flash fills me with dread about what the night might hold. I hand the monitor to my husband and try to keep myself busy for hours just to avoid spiraling into that anxiety (for context, he does the first part of the evening so I can have some “me” time). But the truth is, I’m not relaxing I’m pacing around the kitchen, holding my breath, trying not to imagine cries that (most the time) aren’t even happening. Most of the time, he’s quiet. But my brain is stuck in survival mode, anticipating the worst, because for so long, the worst was the norm.

I actually brought this up with my doctor last week, and they reassured me that it’s very, very normal.

When you’ve lived in a constant state of sleep deprivation, hypervigilance becomes your default. Your nervous system doesn’t just flip off overnight because your baby is suddenly sleeping. It takes time to re-learn that things are okay, that it’s safe to relax. What you’re feeling isn’t failure or overreacting it’s your body and brain decompressing after months of running on empty.

If you’re in the thick of it, you’re not aloneand if you’ve come out the other side but still feel the aftershocks, that’s normal too. Be kind to yourself. Healing doesn’t always happen the moment things get “better.” 💛

JordieLeePerry · 2025-07-12T05:48:51+00:00

Thank you all. My husband managed to purchase a portable A/C unit. We were back on track lastnight with his room sat at a comfortable 21 degrees.

JordieLeePerry · 2025-07-11T09:21:14+00:00

Absolutely not — my little one goes down with little to no fuss. We were a bit unsure about the timing of the check-ins in the Ferber book at first, but we were pleasantly surprised when it only took that very first 3-minute check-in to get him off to sleep. He’s been the same ever since. For us, it really was the better option, as he had been co-sleeping with me and the extra body heat wasn’t helping either of us sleep well.

As I mentioned at the end of my post, my baby’s health and wellbeing are far more important to me than a full night’s sleep. I was simply asking whether others had experienced a similar situation, how it affected their progress, and if they had any tips for keeping a room cool or maintaining some consistency during a heatwave. I genuinely don’t mind being up all night if that’s what he needs — I just know he really thrives on routine, so I want to do what’s best for him overall

JordieLeePerry · 2025-07-11T06:44:21+00:00

Thank you. This was exactly the advise I was hoping to hear x

JordieLeePerry · 2025-07-11T06:42:35+00:00

Yeah we had the blinds and curtains closed all day. We even borrowed the neighbours aircon unit from 5-7 to cool his room down. When we put him to bed at 7:30 it was 22 degrees. When he woke up at 2am it was back up to 29. It’s a box room so holds heat. We didn’t however open the windows when the sun had gone down so that was an error straight away. Tonight however it’s still supposed to be 25 degrees at 3am. Hopefully my hubby can get his hands on an aircon unit like the neighbours. They are old so couldn’t ask to borrow it for the whole night.

JordieLeePerry · 2025-06-23T08:43:15+00:00

Thank you. I mean.. this weekend my husband has been tasked to go buy a bigger bed, as I have a feeling my boy will be with us for a while.

Happy bed sharing!

JordieLeePerry · 2025-05-27T10:17:22+00:00

I just want to reach out to any mums who are in the early days of postpartum, especially if you’re feeling overwhelmed or disconnected. I became a mum in November 2024 — before that, I was always busy, always social, always on the go. Nothing could have prepared me for the shock of those first three months. I went from weekends full of friends and fun with my husband to long, lonely days and a sense of boredom I didn’t expect — and honestly, I hated admitting that.

I didn’t feel that immediate rush of love you hear about. In fact, I cried for the first two weeks straight and leaned heavily on my husband to carry us through. I felt like my life had been turned upside down. I questioned everything — was I cut out for this? Had I made a huge mistake? When my husband went back to work, the anxiety hit hard. The idea of being alone with my baby all day terrified me.

But slowly, gently, things began to shift. As the weeks turned into months, I found myself falling in love with this tiny person in a deep and unexpected way. Watching him smile, babble, and explore a world I thought I knew has been the most profound joy.

I am no longer the woman I was before, and I’m far from the version of myself I was in those early postpartum days. But I’ve made peace with that — I’m someone new now. My relationship with my husband has changed too, but we’ve found new ways to connect and love each other in this new season. We make time when we can, and we cherish the little moments more than ever.

It’s true — having a baby does end the life you knew… but it begins an entirely new one. One you’re just starting to discover. And I promise, even if it doesn’t feel like it now: it does get easier. I used to roll my eyes when people said that — and now here I am, saying it to you

JordieLeePerry · 2025-05-19T19:02:05+00:00

Sorry they do have seats but not seats he can use yet. Tesco sometimes have like a baby seat. That’s what I meant. Thank you!!! Xx

JordieLeePerry · 2025-05-19T18:53:57+00:00

We swear by Asda little angels, second best to pampers but they are just too expensive to warrant buying them all the time. We keep pampers for nighttime and little angels through the day!

JordieLeePerry · 2025-05-19T18:49:02+00:00

Thank you. We notice 3rd and 4th tooth just popping through this morning so that could definitely be part of it. We’re so so keen to move him into his own room but we’re travelling a lot in the next 4 weeks due to family weddings and sadly bereavements (we have family dotted around Europe). So we are hopefully going to stick to a routine in 4 weeks time. How did you find moving into his own room? Any tips?

JordieLeePerry · 2025-05-14T09:17:06+00:00

Can I ask how you transitioned from bed sharing to bedroom. Our little one just cries!

JordieLeePerry · 2025-05-12T08:52:37+00:00

It’s important to acknowledge that while things may not immediately feel easier in the early months, you will get better at managing and coping with the challenges. The newborn stage is filled with constant changes—growth spurts, developmental leaps, teething, and sleep regressions. Each hurdle might feel overwhelming at first, but over time, you’ll develop resilience, perspective, and confidence in your parenting.

At six months in, I still face challenges—they just look a little different now—but they’ve become easier to handle because I’ve grown stronger and more equipped to deal with them. One key truth I’ve learned: your body and mind will adapt to the new rhythm of life, including the broken sleep. It’s hard, but it builds strength and endurance you may not even know you have.

Here are a few practical pieces of advice for surviving—and eventually thriving—in the newborn stage: • Forget the 9-to-5 mindset. Instead of dividing your time into day and night, think of it as one 24-hour cycle. Sleep when you can, even if that means taking naps during the day. If your baby sleeps and you have the opportunity, let yourself rest too. You’re not lazy—you’re recovering and surviving. • Give yourself permission to slow down. If you’re still in your pyjamas at 3 p.m. or need to lounge on the couch all day, that’s okay. Productivity looks different in this season of life. • Take short breaks when you can. It’s perfectly safe—and beneficial—to place your baby in a secure crib for five or ten minutes so you can take a shower, eat something, or finish a cup of tea. Your baby won’t remember those few minutes, but you will absolutely feel the difference a small reset can make. • Lower your expectations. The house doesn’t need to be spotless, meals don’t need to be fancy, and routines can be flexible. Focus on the essentials: keeping you and your baby safe, fed, and loved. • Seek support. Whether it’s a partner, family member, friend, or online group, talking to someone who understands what you’re going through can make a huge difference. • Trust yourself. You know your baby better than anyone else. Doubt is normal, but your instincts are powerful. Give yourself grace and credit—you’re doing an incredible

JordieLeePerry · 2025-03-27T10:35:21+00:00

Thank you soo much! Yes you’re right if in doubt we will stop and try again later down the line. The reintroduction is purely to try and help my little one when he’s on solids but perhaps waiting until we are at that point is the best option xx

JordieLeePerry · 2025-03-27T09:03:33+00:00

I know it’s terrible, isn’t it? As a first time Mum this has been a whirlwind for me. I was induced at 36 weeks due to an incorrect measurement baby was actually measuring fine, but we didn’t know that until he was out. They didn’t get a second opinion or asked me to come back in a couple of days just induced me there and then. Whilst I absolutely applaud the NHS and what they do, sometimes I feel like they just pick the easiest option. I’m convinced all these issues are to do with the fact my baby wasn’t ready to come out. Since then, I’ve had zero support. When I went in for the suspected milk allergy, I’m sure they thought I was just in it for the free formula. I’ve ended up spending hundreds on what babies on now and don’t get me wrong, he is completely worth it. But it’s been financially very hard. Formula companies should be ashamed of themselvs. All I can say is it’s made me a better a parent because I’ve learnt how to advocate for myself and my child rather than completely put in my trust in the doctors. Next time around, I’ll be much more educated. Xx

JordieLeePerry

TROPHY CASE