Sleep deprivation goes hand in hand with being a new parent and with being an on call doctor. But which makes you more tired? And does being a doctor prepare you for the newborn sleep deprivation?
As a father of a 3 week old and a paramedic of 10 years, “The difference is that the baby is cute” is the truest set of words ever. If my 3am call is for a stubbed toe, prepare to die. If it’s for my screaming 3 week old it’s all cuddles and feeding.
No lie! @DocSchmidt Take a breath, already!!!! I hope you don’t talk that fast normally, esp. to your pts. or the nurse. You’re talking so fast, it’s hard to catch what you’re actually saying! SLOW DOWN, please!!! Otherwise, I love your videos!
This is why these things should be done while young because the older you get the more tired you seem to get from just life in general. Hope you can keep all those balls in the air, makes me tired just thinking about all of it, 50 to 60 kinda does that to you.
The pacing of Dr Schmidt's speech made me feel his descent into sleep-deprived madness inside my own body. They eventually sleep through the night, but you will never not be listening for them. And you just deal with unpredictable crises during the day. Unless they get sick, then you're cleaning projectile vomit off the walls at midnight.
Oh gosh. Two of my kids had reflux and projectile vomiting as infants. It looked like something out of a horror movie. But stomach viruses in little ones (think toddlers) are the absolute worst!
LOL sorry dad... I have horrible reflux, even as an adult and a cruddy immune system. My dad had to clean up vomit in the middle of the night many a times growing up. My brother I think threw up more than me... but he always made it to the toilet... that was a "skill" I lacked. My parents learned if I was sick to put a bucket next to my bed, it helped to lessen incidents.
The listening for them the rest of your life is true for my mum. Once, after I had moved out, I was visiting for some days. In the middle of the night I felt sick and barely made it to the toilet before vomiting. Before I was finished my mum stood in the door with a glass of water ❤️ Granted, the bathroom is right next to my parents' bedroom, but still!
Oof yes, stomach bugs are the bane of every parents existence. We have a whole system now, even the kids have it down. It makes the bugs easier to weather but no more fun.
As a doctor and a mum of two boys ( 8 and 3 years old ) this made me smile . Never have I been more tired than in the first weeks after they were born 😂
Watching him talk that quickly like he’s highly caffeinated while talking about newborn sleep deprivation made me need a nap. Congratulations to you guys!
Ironically, I had the easiest days when my son was a newborn. I had a difficult pregnancy and delivery and could not really breastfeed, so he was on formula from day 1. This was a hidden blessing, since it meant I could sleep 6 hours straight (10pm-4am) in the other room while my spouse took care of him and fed him formula whenever he woke up. Then, at 4am, we’d switch rooms: I took care of him while my husband was sleeping 6 hours uninterrupted from 4am-10am in the other room. So, shockingly, we both felt well-rested even in the first weeks. And even though he did wake up often to feed/pee/poop, the person responsible at that moment also had plenty of time to read, write, and listen to podcasts in the armchair next to his crib. I remember those days as a relaxing time. Of course, all this relaxation was only possible because we had no other kids. Things got harder later on, around 3 months, when he got colicky and we both had to be awake all night at the same time, frantically trying to calm him and ease his pain. Good luck, doc! The best years, I think, are when they are between 18 months and 3.5. Old enough to talk to you and reveal their fascinating reasoning and speech skills developing, but not old enough to have angry and teenager-like tantrums. Enjoy it!
My husband and I did mixed breast and bottle feeding and those 5-6 hours of sleep were life giving! Although in the very early days I couldn't relax and sleep when the baby wasn't asleep!! That took some practice!
This makes me smile, because my little girl is 37 years old today, and I still worry about her (...and she sometimes keeps me up at night!), even though she lives 100 miles away and is now married with her own children!!!
Many congratulations on the new arrival Doc Schmidt! Hospital night shifts are hard, I know! But being a parent is a 24hr full time job, can't yet imagine!! Wish you and your family all the best ❤️
Congratulations on your new little one. Hold her tight because one moment she's a little snuggle bunny in your arms, next she's heading out the door for college and your standing there wondering where the heck the time went...
When I brought my 3rd child home from the hospital I sat in bed and looked at her sleeping peacefully knowing full well I would be up feeding her within a couple of hours. I let the recognition that I wasn’t going to have a solid night of sleep for a long time sweep over me. Then I thought about how cute my sweet baby was and got comfy for my two hours of sleep. (And I still decided to have one more after that!). Teenagers are tough, but they do sleep really well!’ Congrats Doc Schmidt! The sleepless (baby related) nights won’t last forever. They’ll just seem like it! :-).
Oddly enough I found your channel and binged your TikToks sitting up all night feeding my newborn daughter this summer. I was a shift worker for 10 years. I’m with you 100%, children are more tiring than shifts.
@@hiimpercy that's just how doctors talk. They have a limited amount of time to get a lot of information out and a lot of times their brains just move fast
Being a dad is pretty much like being on call, lol. Being a parent is a 24/7 job. But sleep training really helped my son develop a sleep schedule at three months old.
First thing, congrats on the baby you’re gonna be a wonderful dad! Second, thank you for speaking so quickly I have ADHD and you speaking at a billion miles a second actually helps me digest the information better than speaking slowly.
WAIT WAIT WAIT are you really telling me my Dr's kids are more important to him than me? That he loves them more? That's he's more vested in them than in my heart burn etc? You just blew my mind and crushed my realty Doc!!!!😂😂 I'm gonna check out your parenting for a bit but I suspect it will be amazing!!! Afterwards we can talk about how your wife and yourself feel about adopting an almost 50 yr old daughter. I'm over this adulting thing.😂😂Good video Doc
Congratulations! I was most tired when I had baby #4, the other 3 kids were really little too, and husband was working overtime. I don’t know how I made it on about 3 hours of sleep for a few months. Much more well rested now, but I am gearing up for having to stay up late during the teen years! It will be a challenge for this early bird ha ha.
My son, with autism and ADHD, used to cause me to only sleep for 3 hours a night... I was a single parent at the time. I don't know how I survived. Adrenaline!
Love the perspective! Congrats on the babby :) My wife and I are thinking about having one in the next year or two! Seems like no matter what it’s going to be difficult, but in the end, definitely worth it (both for this grueling medical training process and for having a cute babby!)
Congratulations. I've often thought that the medical system is designed to create medical mistakes by mistreating staff to the point where they're no longer competent, and yet it's considered not a problem.
For my husband and I, what really helped was setting the 7am deadline. After I was up overnight with our daughter, I knew for sure I could hand her to him and go to sleep at 7am when he was up and get 3-5 hours of straight sleep. And even though that's not much, if I got 3-5 hours of sleep in chunks overnight, I could still get 8 hours on average every day. So by noon I was functional. It also helped mentally to know there was a deadline.
Congratulations! I have four girls & I remember those days well. It’s ok to let her fuss for a few minutes, she‘lol slowly learn to soothe herself back to sleep. I always found it hard to sleep when the baby napped but if she fell asleep while nursing, I was out like a light. The first months are rough, but it gets easier. You’ll find a routine that works for you. Also, you’re not obligated to take advice from strangers about it, either. Try it, perhaps, but if it doesn’t work, try something different.
As a physician assistant who works 7 on/ 7 off, one week of days, and one week of nights a month, and the parent of a son who is turning 21 next week, I concur that what you've said is 100% accurate and I wish you a lifetime of joy with your cute daughter! 😊
Dr. Schmidt first off I want to congratulate you and your wife on the new little human. It is very exciting and also sleep deprivation is difficult. I had three newborns, at separate times, and the lack of sleep all the worry is worth it. I am very proud of my not so little humans and I know you'll be a wonderful father, and your wife a wonderful mother.
Congratulations on your new baby! My first two children were 14 months apart. So, my oldest thought that was a great age difference. He's 35 and completely exhausted.
Congratulations on parenthood and on your ability to still form so many coherent sentences! I survived being a first-time parent of twins with no help during the day (they were born just before the first lockdown) and my twins actually had an arrangement where they could be awake together but never asleep together for months. 🤦🏼♀️ I wouldn't wish it on anyone and you're a trooper! This, too, shall pass.
Baby is harder! I’m a veterinarian that shares call and works at a busy practice. I felt that internship made me proficient at being very sleep deprived… waking every 2hrs to nurse baby and try to stay awake was harder. Also, baby woke up every 2-4hrs for the first 3-4mo of life and I was back to work full time at 7wks post partum. If I get a call about a patient, typically the nature of the problem would wake me up. Congrats on the new baby!!
Gorgeous! Congratulations! Loved the comment about putting the pacifier back! I was up at 4 am yesterday with my 5 month old, just holding his little hands while he passed gas! Lol. He didn't even open his eyes! Just cried and writhed for a bit, then let rip! Then...peace! Hahaha!!
As a teacher I want to commend you on how superbly you can make coherent sentences and speak in paragraphs at a very high speed, with apparently, reduced sleep. Well done. Each word was crisply enunciated, each idea clear. I only wish I could be so coherent in my lectures.
Congrats on the new dad status! My wife and I are expecting our first in June and we are both in healthcare. I had this very question on my mind. I appreciate the perspective and info!
And i thought the speech in Gilmore Girls was too fast for me to follow... Dude slow down.. Speed's 55 mph! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Congratulations on your baby and as a sleep deprived medical professional/ mom to a 8 yr old... I feel you deep in my core... Hang in there... It gets better... ☺️
Hospitalist NP here. I take call 14-21 nights a month. I also have two children. It is a very similar state of sleep deprivation. I have described my phone as a newborn more than once. My kids are a lot cuter than my phone for sure… Hang in there, doc. It doesn’t last forever.
You're super busy in the day and possibly at night for work, but you're still available for your baby at night. That's an amazing dad right there. Congratulations and best wishes! Splurge on consistent self-care and extra help like there's no tomorrow
Gosh congratulations on becoming a new dad and to your OH for bringing the little love into the world. Also mate you could rival the Scots for talking fast I love it 🤣 Again congratulations on your new bub
Congratulations on the bambino doc Schmidt. Advice my mom got from my grandma when she had her babies.. just sleep whilst the baby sleep.. even if you have so much to do.. your body and your sanity will thank you for it
Sweet video. Babies ARE cuter : ) I nursed my daughter - which meant that when she was tiny, I did 90% of the nighttime care - which worked great, since I was a stay at home mom, and my husband was working long day shifts to support us. And, on days he was home, he'd let me sleep late while he took care of her. And at nights when he needed to turn in early, I was happy to sit up late with her. Having a TEAM with a newborn makes all the difference. My Mom had it much harder, since she was widowed when I was a newborn - the older I get, the more I appreciate all she did!
Hi Dr. Schmit ,Yes night shift is hard . My late husband did three shifts. Afternoon,nights plus days.Your schedule is very stressful Congratulations to you and your wife on birth of your daughter. Well best to employ a nanny maybe to help out.It is a rewarding time bringing up your daughter. Planning and having to be organised. Can anyone close like your parents from time to time hep a little if possible. I perfectly understand the duress your wife plus yourself are under.I worked as a nanny for a few doctors some years back. Interesting to say the least. All of you do a lot. Wishing you and your family many blessings. Thank you so very much. Kindest regards.That word was help ,missed the L out by mistake.
Aw. I remember when my daughter was born. That whole first year I kept saying that I couldn’t wait until she was able to sleep through the night. She is turning 4 in a couple of weeks and she still wakes up a couple of times a night!! Now my first born, he was sleeping through the night by 4 months
Man, I can relate to your point about working on call and the anxiety that comes with not knowing if you're getting 0 calls or many many calls overnight. I'm always ready to jerk awake at a moments notice on those nights, every other weekend. I'm not a provider though, just desktop support at a hospital. And usually when I have to show up I'm cranky and they're cranky too! 😭 I don't know if I could handle being on call while parenting a newborn, that shit is for the birds. I wish you, wifey and baby many restful nights!
You’re sounding a little sleep deprived there, Doc. Don’t worry she’ll be sleeping through the night before too long. Welcome to parenthood. Hang in there
My oldest is 25 now, but she was a baby that woke up every 2 hours for over a year due to medical issues. I worked as a nurse back than and did a week of night-shift every 4th week, because she was in daycare during the day, I slept better than normal and would be less tired after a week of night-shifts than I would be at the end of a regular week 🙃 😆
With that very thoughtful, fast, exhausted commentary, I want to thank you for allowing me to make the decision that I would like to be an on-call ICU doctor for 2 to 3 weeks straight rather than have a child. ;-). (Congratulations 🎈 to you and your wife!)
