Insomnia after weaning

[skyR]

Hi

I've recently switched from breastfeeding to formula feeding my 5 month old. If was a fairly quick wean as my baby was refusing the breast.

Since then my sleep has got progressively worse. Some nights I don't sleep at all. I find I drop off for maybe 5 minutes, then wake with heart pounding and sometimes hot and dizzy. I don't feel particularly anxious, its like my body has gone to sleep but my brain's sill awake! It's such a shame as I'm lucky enough to have a baby that sleeps through the night!

I've tried all the standard suggestions (cut out caffeine, more exercise, no screens before bed etc) but none of it seems to help!

Has anyone else been through this or does anyone have any suggestions on what else I could try?

Thanks in advance!

[MrsBriteSide]

I also sort of suffer with this after stopppng breastfeeding so I wonder if it’s a hormone thing. It’s not to the extent that you describe but since weaning DD off the boob I’ve been suffering night sweats again (had them for weeks after the birth). Frustratingly I’ve also been awake for ages while DD is asleep. I’m blaming this on stress around buying a new house. It’s almost as if I’ve become so accustomed to waking up to breastfeed that now she’s only waking up once in the night I still wake up regardless! I’m hoping it all settles down soon. So I’m there in spirit with you! I try to just focus on my breathing and let any thoughts drift away. This helps me get back to sleep. Good luck.

[Butimstillhungry]

I had this with both of my babies, but it was worse with DS2. It started when he started sleeping through at 10 weeks (so frustrating to have a good sleeper but not be able to sleep yourself).

I do think it's a hormone thing and will get better with time, but I think the thing that helped me was taking a magnesium supplement. Although it could have just be coincidental that things started to improve then.

It took a couple of months to see real improvement and it did make me very anxious during that time. But he's now 11 months and I'm very much back to my usual good sleeping.

I really feel for you; insomnia is a horrible thing. But it will get better and you will sleep normally again.

[skyR]

Hi

Thanks for the advice!

[crazycatlady5]

I had this a few years ago and I do believe it could be linked to hormones as I hadn’t had children but it happened shortly after I stopped taking the pill (had been taking it about 10 years) so I think my body went nuts! Exactly as you say, I’d have nights of NO sleep and every time I was about to drop off I’d get palpitations and adrenaline pulsing through me. It was very unpleasant so I really feel for you. Keep an eye on it and talk to your doctor if you’re concerned.

[mama0got0moves]

I've had similar symptoms since I had my baby 5 months ago. I had a blood test and found out I have an overactive thyroid. It's very common after having a child and usually settles itself but worth getting checked out as it can swing the other way and that can be more serious I think.

[skyR]

Mama0got0moves, did you have daytime symptoms with your thyroid or just the night ones?

Thanks

[mama0got0moves]

Throughout day and night. Sweats mainly at night but also a lot of anxiety as I was worrying a lot. I was finding it really hard to sleep but initially put this down to my mind being on overdrive. I was treated for post natal anxiety/depression first and put on an antidepressant. Saw a huge improvement in my sleep and anxiety symptoms but not the sweating. That's when I had the blood test and they found my thyroid was out of whack. It's a weird one because the symptoms for overactive thyroid are very similar to the physical symptoms of anxiety.

Are you feeling any better skyR?

[skyR]

Hi

Thanks for the advice.

Unfortunately things have become worse, frequently not sleeping at all so had a few days of sleeping tablets which worked brilliantly. But then the problem seemed even worse when I came off them. I have no idea what to do for the best! I wasn't feeling anxious initially but today I'm feeling really low and worrying about over using the sleeping tablets. It doesn't feel like normal insomnia where you're just awake; it's the fact I fall asleep for a couple of minutes then wake up again that makes me think maybe there's something else physical going on. So easy to drive yourself a bit mad thinking about it!

[Changerazelea]

Worth going back to dr and asking if you are suitable for a very low dose (10mg) of amytriptiline. I had this problem after have DC2 days and days of no sleep almost lost it! Dr prescribed this drug which has worked wonders for me very light sedative effect and I’ve not had any side effects much better than the sleeping tablets in my opinion. It is specifically used for sleep problems apparently as well as being an antidepressant in higher doses.

Worst of my sleep problems are behaving me now (DC is 5months now) I hope it passes for you. Good luck.

[skyR]

Hi Changerazelea

Do you mind if I ask if you're still on Amytriptiline or is it something you can come off?

Thanks

[Force12]

Hello,
I had terrible insomnia after my daughter was born. For me, it was a symptom of post natal anxiety and depression. I was prescribed anti depressants which helped with the anxiety, mood and the sleeping.
It is worth talking to your GP about. There is an online (American) resource called postpartum progress which I found to be really helpful in explaining the symptoms of PND, poor sleep is a symptom, which is not always recognised by health professionals.
It took me a long time to get the right diagnosis and treatment, but once I did I started to sleep normally again.

[Force12]

It's a horrible thing to go through and I really feel for you. Feel free to PM me

[drspouse]

I am an adoptive parent so no hormonal explanation but with both my DC when they were young enough to need a night feed I found it SO difficult to go back to sleep. I put it down to unaccustomed waking followed by getting into a bad habit and some anxiety. Of course post adoption depression is a "thing" too.

It carried on for a bit after no more night feeds and I did have to get some help from the GP in the end, but I also found breaking the habit with melatonin (acquired on a holiday - but I think OTC sleep aids might have done the trick too) helped.

[rosebuddeluxe]

Hi Everyone,
I know this is an old thread, but I thought I would add to it incase someone does a search and reads it after the fact. I have struggled with insomnia, mood swings, fatigue, etc. Following weaning with all three of my children.

With my most recent son I was prepared for it and went to see a naturopath when he was 3 months and still breastfeeding. It was been life changing. She helped me with some adrenal support (called adaptogens), a bunch of other supplements, and magnesium/l-theanine for sleep.

It hasn’t been cheap, but for my mental health I would pay almost anything. Worth a look if you don’t want to go the anti-depressant route (absolutely NOTHING wrong with anti-depressants, I just think of them as more of a last resort).

Good luck to all. Not an easy journey.

[Letly]

Hi all. I know this is an old thread but I just wanted to let you know how comforting it's been to read I am not alone. I have exactly the same symptoms you describe @skyR, after starting the weaning process 6 weeks ago with my now 7 month old DD2. I don't seem to be able to sleep for more than 5-20 minutes at a time and after somehow functioning well for the first few weeks, I now feel I am going insane. Amytriptyline didn't work for me, sleeping pills do but like you say the problem seems worse after. I'm about to start mirtazipine, primarily for its sedating effects. I'm also seeing a cbt therapist next week (although i do feel this is hormonal/medical). If you are reading this can you tell me how long it lasted or if anything helped? I really hope for your sake (and mine!!) you are sleeping well again and life is good xx

[skyR]

Hi

Oh I totally feel for you, it's so horrible!

I ended up seeing the mental health nurse from the health visitor team. Her thoughts were that the issue probably started as a hormonal one but then became a bit of a learned response where I had become so anxious about getting to sleep. She suggested I try Sertraline (an anti anxiey drug) for 6 months. As this can disrupt sleep initially she also suggested I try zopiclone (sleeping tablet) for 3 weeks at the start. After coming off zopiclone my sleep was so much better. I then came off Sertraline after 6 months and now I have the odd bad night like anyone but I basically sleep normally. Interestingly the main time I have issues is if I have PMT.

Just as a heads up, some GPs aren't that into prescribing zopiclone for so long as they worry about it becoming habit forming. But there's no evidence it's habit forming if you take it for less than a month.

I don't know if it was just having 3 weeks of zopiclone to reset my sleep habits or if it was the Sertraline but either way it definitely did the trick!

Good luck and I hope this has helped!

X

[Letly]

@skyR thank you SO much for your response, it really helped :) sorry I'm only just getting around to replying, life flies by (in the daytime anyway lol). Similar to you I ended up seeing the GP, and am now on mirtazipine at my request (which is a sedating anti-depressant). My sleep has improved 10 fold. I know the problem didn't start with depression, but after 3 weeks of next to no sleep it's no wonder really. I still get the odd night where I can't tip over into sleep, but the improvement is massive. I had to give up BF completely to go on the meds, but as my LO preferred the bottle by this point it was a relatively easy decision to make.
I intend to try and start to come off them once my periods return and are regular, as to me this will suggest there's been a change in my hormones and maybe the problem
will no longer be there 😬😬( other than at certain times of the month like you say!)
There is so little information out there regarding the side effects of weaning off the breast, I hope this helps someone like us who is desperately searching for any help or support. You are not alone!
Thanks again xx