The one thing most new mothers wish they could have is the one gift they never quite get: more sleep.

Now comes word that the missing sleep so common in homes with new babies may actually be keeping mom from losing all that weight she gained during pregnancy.

There have been several studies out on this recently, with still more under way, and they all seem to point to a connection between poor sleep habits and obesity.

A recent study carried out by the healthcare provider Kaiser Permanente found that new mothers who weren’t getting a good night’s rest had a three-fold risk of holding onto those pregnancy pounds than women who averaged seven dreamy hours per night.

I know that much sleep really would seem like a dream to most new mothers, especially those who have to wake up throughout the night for regular feedings.

But the effects of those extra pounds gained during pregnancy can haunt women for decades. Not long ago, I told you about one of the bigger problems facing older women today: They may live longer than men, but they’re actually less healthy in those later years.

And one reason for that, according to a study presented at the American Geriatric Society’s annual meeting, is weight gained during pregnancy but never lost afterward. So now, senior women are 2.5 times more likely to be disabled than men of the same age.

(Click here to read, “Don’t just live longer, live better.”)

As this latest study shows, simply getting better sleep can help you get your weight back under control.

Other small steps may also help. A study out of Finland found that new mothers who work probiotics into their diets have less belly fat and a lower percentage of overall body fat.

That study was presented at the 17th European Conference on Obesity, held in May in the Netherlands.

While a little more sleep will always help and probiotics are beneficial on a number of levels, a longer-term strategy will require a bit more work. That means eating right, avoiding carbs and getting some exercise. With a new baby in the house, I can’t think of a better time to bring some healthy new habits into your life.

Not only will you live better, but your children will grow up with healthy habits, too – lowering their risk for a lifetime of poor health and obesity.

Do it right, and you’ll give yourself more years to watch them grow, fulfill their dreams and raise healthy families of their own.

Is there a better incentive than that?