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Karoline Leavitt has recently begun her maternity leave, though stepping away from work is no easy task for her.
The 28-year-old marked her first Mother’s Day as a mother of two this past weekend. She and her husband, Nicholas Riccio, 60, welcomed a baby girl named Vivianna on May 1. They shared the joyful news with their followers on Instagram just last week.
Leavitt is also mother to her nearly two-year-old son, Niko. While she diligently fulfills her duties as the White House press secretary, she balances the demands of a full-time mom, often making sacrifices to succeed in both roles.
Speaking to the Christian Broadcasting Network, Leavitt revealed she doesn’t get as much sleep as is typically recommended for adults, but it suits her lifestyle. “Actually, it’s usually about five to six hours a night,” she said. “As President Trump says, when you love your job and you love your life, you don’t need to sleep much.”
Leavitt also addressed the ongoing challenge of balancing work and family life. “It’s certainly challenging.
There’s no doubt about it. I think every working mother understands the demands.
And no matter where you are, what you’re doing, there is a sense of guilt,” she shared. “But I spend every second that I possibly can with my son when I’m home on weekends and evenings.
I try to make it home for bedtime as much as I can throughout the week.”
For context, adults are generally advised to get between seven and nine hours of sleep per night, according to the National Sleep Foundation. The Mayo Clinic warns that regularly getting less than seven hours can negatively impact health, contributing to risks such as weight gain, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and depression.