Your exhaustion is real and directly connected to your baby's sleep habits. Research shows that when your baby falls asleep after 10 p.m. or wakes for long stretches at night, you experience more postpartum fatigue and recovery struggles. The good news? Helping your baby develop better sleep patterns—like an earlier bedtime—can genuinely improve your own energy and healing after birth. There's also mixed evidence about how your baby's sleep location affects your mood; some mothers feel better with their baby nearby, others feel worse, and some notice no difference. What matters most is choosing a sleep arrangement that helps *you* get rest and feel mentally well. Talk with your doctor about what works best for your own postpartum recovery and mental health.