Mom Films Herself Sleeping And Is Stunned Once She Watches The Footage

"Parenting doesn’t end when the sun goes down," admitted Melanie Darnell, a social media influencer and mom of three. This is particularly true when it comes to the sleepless nights that so many new mothers experience. But for Melanie, 10 months of exhaustion led her to conduct an experiment to determine exactly why she was unable to get the sleep she so desperately needed. Filming herself at night, it wasn't long before Melanie discovered the startling reason behind her sleepless nights.

Melanie's story

Based in Los Angeles, Melanie Darnell, otherwise known as "Fitmomma," is the mother of three children. In addition to being a dedicated caregiver, Melanie is also a blogger who enjoys providing her fellow moms with vegan nutrition and home workout tips. Soon enough, however, Melanie would also become the provider of a jaw-dropping revelation.

Turning difficulty into inspiration

Following the birth of her third child, Melanie could not believe how every morning she would wake up more tired than the night before. "I literally got no sleep last night," she would say to her husband. But what Melanie didn't realize was that she wasn't alone.

The problem is bigger than you'd think

In a survey conducted by Owlet Baby Care, nearly half of the parents that responded admitted to getting just three hours of sleep or less. Even more alarming was the discovery that only 5 percent of parents reported getting 8 hours of sleep per night.

Disastrous consequences

While many people get less than the standard eight hours per night, sleeping for less than three hours like many new parents can be dangerous. The Owlet survey also revealed that 30 percent of new parents have fallen asleep at work, 21 percent have fallen asleep in parked cars, and another 11 percent have dozed off in the shower.