[Free Announcer Reina Sumi] Struggling with Childcare for the First Time! “What I Need most Right Now is Sleep.”

How do professionals who continue to challenge themselves in various fields such as sports, business, art, and culture approach their bodies and unleash their potential? We ask about the "conditioning" they practice in their lifestyles.

This time, we feature Reina Sumi, a freelance announcer who married in 2022 and gave birth to her first child in 2024. We asked Ms. Sumi, who is currently struggling with her first experience of childcare, to share her honest thoughts about the joys and challenges of parenting, as well as the difficulties she faces in balancing work and family life.

*Conditioning, as defined by TENTIAL, is the act of optimizing all factors related to one's physical condition to improve life performance.

The Challenge of Balancing Childcare and Housework Far Exceeded My Expectations

-- First of all, congratulations on your childbirth! As a new mother, I'm sure you're working hard. Was there a gap between your pre-birth image and the post-birth reality?

I was prepared for the difficulty of childcare. There's a lot of information available, and I had a vague idea that 'after the baby is born, it would be so demanding that I wouldn't even have time to sleep.' But after giving birth, I realized that no matter how much you imagine it, you can't truly understand the difficulty until you actually experience it. Life centered around the baby is more grueling than I imagined, and it's definitely taking a toll on my physical strength (laughs).

What was even more unexpected was the burden of "housework." I had been doing housework routinely before giving birth, so I didn't give it much thought. I assumed I could manage somehow.

That was naive of me (laughs). Trying to do cleaning, laundry, and cooking while taking care of the baby, all at the same level as before giving birth, doesn't go as smoothly as I thought. Caught between childcare and housework, I now have almost no time for myself.

-- I think it's honestly challenging to perfectly manage housework while taking care of a child.

I think I was putting pressure on myself, feeling that 'since I'm at home all the time during maternity leave, I should do everything myself.'

But as the baby, who was initially always lying down, grew and started to roll over, and would only stop crying when I held them, the time I had for housework gradually decreased.

Then, when I wondered when I could do the housework, the only answer was 'I have to cut into my sleep time,' which made things increasingly difficult.

-- Didn't you consider 'cutting corners'?

Well, I'm not a perfectionist by any means, but since my husband is out working, I feel like 'the person at home should do it.' Even if the room is a mess, I can't bring myself to ignore it and use that time for my own refreshment. I start to feel guilty.

Work Serves as a Breather and an Escape for Me

-- You returned to work soon after giving birth, didn't you?

Yes. Balancing work and childcare is challenging, but I think it's good in the sense that work allows me to 'forgive myself for not being perfect.' You can make excuses to yourself like, 'I'm working late today, so I'll buy dinner on the way home.'

In that sense, I think having work helps lighten my mental load.

-- Did you want to return to work as soon as possible?

Yes, I love my work, so I wanted to return as soon as possible. I want to continue working as long as I receive offers, while balancing it with childcare.

I really wish I had another me (laughs).

-- Compared to before giving birth, did you notice any changes in your feelings when you returned to work?

I often bring my child to work, so I'm very grateful to the office staff who look after my child while I'm on air. My husband is also cooperative with childcare and helps with housework as much as he can.

I can't do everything by myself. My gratitude for the help I receive is growing day by day.

-- What do you enjoy doing the most right now?

It's definitely when I'm playing with my child. The time when I forget about housework and things I want to do, and just purely play with my child is really enjoyable.

I sing songs and read picture books with my child. Also, since I like taking photos, I take lots of pictures.

I'm Receiving Chiropractic Care for Pelvic Adjustment Maintenance

-- I imagine your days are incredibly busy, but do you have any health concerns?

I've always had lower back pain, but it got worse after giving birth. It became quite severe, to the point where there were days when I couldn't sleep even when lying down because of the pain in my lower back. So one day I went for a massage and was told, 'Your sacrum is misaligned.'

Since then, I've been going to a chiropractor regularly for pelvic adjustments and to correct body misalignments.

-- Are you getting enough sleep?

Not at all (laughs). My child has started waking up at night, so now I'm repeating a cycle of night crying and feeding every 3 hours. Since the baby cries every 3 hours, the most I can sleep at a stretch is 2 hours in between (laughs). It's like I'm sleeping in 2-hour fragments.

-- Do you take naps during work breaks to recover?

No, I bring my child to work too, so I spend my free time taking care of the child. So I can't take naps during work.

I'm in a state where I wonder, 'Will there ever be a day when I can sleep for a long stretch?' But I'm getting through this by believing in the words of experienced moms who say, 'They will eventually sleep through the night.'

-- Are you able to eat your own meals properly?

I'm conscious of it, but I can't really manage to eat three proper meals a day. The child inevitably takes priority.

Maybe because of that, I'm also struggling with skin problems now. It might be the worst condition my skin has ever been in my life. And compared to when I was younger, my recovery speed has slowed down too.

Being Mindful not to Overlook Changes in Physical and Mental Condition

-- Is there anything you're currently doing to maintain your condition?

I try to nap when the baby naps as much as possible. And as I mentioned earlier, I get pelvic adjustments and massages. At the chiropractic clinic where I get pelvic adjustments, they also guide me through muscle training exercises. I'm re-training the muscles that loosened during childbirth to rebalance my entire body.

-- It's important to regulate your daily rhythm too, isn't it?

Yes, it is. Recently, my child started waking up at night, so I was researching 'how to get them to sleep longer at night.'

That's when I learned that 'it's good to wake up at the same time every morning and get some sunlight.' Now, as soon as we wake up, I open the curtains and bask in the morning sun with my child, and try to finish our walk in the morning if possible.

On the other hand, when it's time to sleep at night, I make sure the bedroom is completely dark. This is supposed to help the 'sleep switch' function smoothly.

-- Have you experienced any mental changes postpartum?

There were several times when I suddenly felt sad, even though I should have been happy that my child was born. I'm happy that my child was born safely, and I want to play with them more, but my body is tired and my feelings can't keep up. There were times when I felt sad in such situations.

-- Do you talk to your family about it?

Yes, I do talk to my husband. I try to tell him everything, even trivial things, to avoid bottling things up as much as possible.

There have been times in the past when I bottled things up and suddenly exploded, leading to arguments. So even though we're both busy, we try to make time for conversation as much as possible.

-- From the other person's perspective, there are things they 'won't know unless you tell them,' right?

That's right. Even if you think 'I wish they would do this' in your mind, it doesn't get conveyed. My husband has also said, 'If you had told me earlier, I would have done it.'

TENTIAL is a Strong Ally for People like Me who Want to Recover from Fatigue Efficiently

-- Please share your thoughts on TENTIAL.

I originally like sleeping and need a lot of sleep. But now that I have a child, that's not possible.

I think TENTIAL is the perfect brand for my current lifestyle.

-- Sleep time becomes especially precious when you're raising a child, doesn't it?

Yes. Until now, I was the type who could sleep anywhere, so I never thought deeply about the importance of sleep.

But now, I'm acutely aware of how crucial sleep is for people to stay energetic.

Without a doubt, what I need most right now = sleep.

Even if it's for a short time, I try to create a good sleep environment. When I have things that are comfortable for me, it gives me more mental leeway.

-- Please introduce your favorite items.

I love the gauze type 'BAKUNE Pajamas Gauze' from BAKUNE. It's great because it maintains a comfortable temperature that's neither too hot nor too cold, and can be used year-round. The soft gauze material feels good on the skin.

However, my bedroom is quite cold, so I'm thinking of switching to BAKUNE's velour material 'BAKUNE Velour' for the upcoming season for more comfort.

I also use the 'BAKUNE Blanket' a lot. It's warm but folds compactly, so I think it's convenient to take out when going out with my child.

-- I heard that you've been using the 'Recovery Sandal Warm' at your workplace.

Yes. It's very warm and the material is good. I was also surprised by how easy it is to walk in!

TENTIAL's recovery wear and sandals would make great gifts too. I think the recipient would be happy, feeling that 'they're looking out for my health.'