A Mom’s Story of Support and Healing
The second in a series of profiles of real moms with real challenges…who were helped by SNOO.
Jessica was thrown for a loop by feeling unprepared and overwhelmed following the birth of her first child.
Baby Chloe was hospitalized for high jaundice and—in Jessica’s words—she felt that she “had failed her baby” because of it. Her husband Paul, a pilot-in-training, could only be home 2 nights a week, and Jessica felt lonely in his absence. On top of physical pain and weakness—from tears and stitches she received during labor—Jessica was severely sleep-deprived. She could barely function on the few hours of sleep she was getting each night.
"I started to feel unstable after the first week," she explained.
Knowing she couldn’t care for Chloe by herself when Paul was away, Jessica took turns staying with her parents and in-laws.
“My parents raised me to try to do everything on my own first,” Jessica said, describing an independence rooted in her Vietnamese upbringing. She was raised to avoid asking for help and becoming indebted to others.
While grateful for the support, Jessica’s mood worsened the more time she spent away from her own home, and she began to feel ”trapped.”
A Turning Point
One night, about 2 months in, Jessica had a long, heart-to-heart with Paul. "I told him I love our baby, but sometimes I felt overwhelmed and fatigued. I told him I wouldn't trade my baby for anything, but sometimes I missed our old life.”
Paul’s response was incredibly supportive. He became a gatekeeper to protect his wife. He fielded the family’s offers of help. He asked Jessica for her thoughts and only accepted the help—and baby stuff—that she approved.
In addition, Paul heard about SNOO Smart Sleeper. He thought, if it could ease Jessica’s exhaustion it might give her just the support she needed to be able to be independent and care for their little baby in their own home. It worked...but took a little time. Because Chloe was over 2 months old when SNOO arrived, she went through the typical adjustment period for babies that age, which is up to a week. As they waited for their daughter to get accustomed to her new sleep environment, the couple took advantage of a Happiest Baby sleep consultation and learned tricks for keeping Chloe’s wiggly arms well swaddled and for easing their soothed baby from the sling into the bed. Soon, Chloe started sleeping better and better—and so did Jessica and Paul.
Within 7 days, Chloe had her first 7-hour nighttime stretch!
Spreading Awareness
Jessica credits feeling better to: Ending her sleep-deprivation, regaining her personal space, feeling so supported by Paul and to her daughter’s sweet cooing and smiles. Suddenly, Jessica’s darkness lifted, her confidence began to flourish and her connection to Chloe blossomed.
“I also get the peace of mind that my baby is safe sleeping in the SNOO since the sleep sack is securely fixed to the sides of the crib. I wish we had gotten SNOO right off the bat!”
Jessica said she wanted to share her story with Happiest Baby—and end the taboo against speaking about her challenges during the postpartum period—as a way of helping other moms and dads.
View more posts tagged, real stories
Have questions about a Happiest Baby product? Our consultants would be happy to help! Submit your questions here.