down constantly all night, you’re completely wore out the next day, you’re going to
be in a crappy mood and not want to do nowt [anything].
MBG2-2: I was asking husband if we can do anything to, you know, make [the
baby] a better sleeper [laughs] Because your whole life depends on, you know, how
they sleep, isn’t it? Only then can you do other work.
Other participants also spoke on this theme, that the tiredness and lack of sleep
had an impact on their ability to perform other domestic and care work that they
valued, for their families.
PS-D: My house becomes wreck and ruin [when I’m tired] which makes me feel
worse because then I’m tired so then all I can see is just rubbish everywhere and
mess and that so, it’s kinda then a vicious circle...I want to get it tidy cause it’s
getting me down but then I’m not getting enough sleep...
BFSG2-A: Yeah I think I was more worried about [sleep] this time round, having
two other [children] at home. How I would function looking after the two others
when I was sleep deprived. So yeah that was a bit of a worry.
Many participants were involved in activities beyond the domestic sphere that
placed demands on their time in the early weeks and months. Women found that
work required for higher education courses and work done as part of paid
employment was particularly difficult to accomplish when experiencing a lack of
sleep.
MBG1-6 They told me when she sleep that you can sleep with her so you can both
take rest. But because I was writing my dissertation she didn’t sleep so I couldn’t
sleep or study, [either]. Yeah. And it was very tiring. I was very tired. And I know I
am quite worry if I get another baby and they have the same situation.
MBG3-A: What I really need to do is work on my portfolio, which really, really I
should be working on...And for me I just can’t do it. I’m missing all my deadlines
because when they’re sleeping I want to sleep, and if they’re not sleeping there’s
just no chance and I can’t work either. So I’ve got that hanging over my head, never
mind housework and washing clothes.
Both within and outside the home, many participants reported that anxiety and
worry accompanied their perceived inability to keep up with their responsibilities.
Some participants, however, reported that by accepting the situation, they were able
to‘get on with it’.
PS-C: I think it depends what kind of a person you are, how you let the sleep affect
you. I’m quite laid back so I don’t let it get me down, if I’ve had a, I’ve had a bad
night but I’m not going to let it get me down today. You know I think some mums
think‘Aw, I’ve had a really bad night’and just, you know it plays on them...and
then their day becomes worse...Like you say with the sleep, thefirst few weeks it’s
a bit hellish, a bit of a nightmare where everything’ settling down and, and thens
after that you just forget about it don’t you? You just get on.
40 A.E.F. Rudzik and H.L. Ball