One of the first things a parent will tell an expectant mother is, "wait until you have kids, then you'll know what it really means to be tired." This can come off as condescending, aloof, or even rude. Yet I'd argue that the years of sleep-deprivation have all but erased the filter which tells you what is and isn't considered an appropriate conversation topic. A prolonged period of time where sleep is just beyond your reach can take a toll on parents. Thankfully, there are some ways to cope with exhaustion as a new mom, because sometimes taking extra long blinks just don't cut it.
You know those days when you wonder exactly how difficult it would be to get an IV drip of caffeine straight into your veins? Well if you haven't, you're probably thinking about it now. In fact, I'm pretty sure every first-time parent has searched Amazon for an IV kit at least once during their delirious state of exhaustion. There's just something about being sleep-deprived that can make a person desperate for any kind of solution to ease their situation.
So whether you're reading this at 3 a.m. because your newborn decided bedtime was over, or you're squinting at the screen because half-closed eyes feel like the closest thing you'll get to a luxurious nap, check out some of these ways to cope with exhaustion as a new mom.