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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

BF and very anxious - is there anything I can take to help me sleep?

4 replies

cyanarasamba · 10/01/2011 09:24

Our beautiful baby daughter (10w)was diagnosed with an extremely rare condition out of the blue just before Christmas. She will need intensive therapy for life - therapies which are known to have lots of side-effects. Also a few nasties like a predisposition to some cancers.

We are in bits but trying our best to get through. I am terrified for the future.
During the day I can often feel delighted to have her and my other DC, but at night my mind races and I find it hard to get to sleep once she has gone down - so very up and down I suppose.

She isn't a great sleeper but will go 10pm-2am normally. Last night I just lay there stressing and waiting for her to wake.

My doctor has tentatively suggested anti-depressants to help manage the roller-coaster feelings but I'm not sure. I feel if I could just get some sleep I would be able to manage better. Pre-DC I remember taking valerian which was quite effective. Is this a no-no while breastfeeding? Any other advice?

OP posts:
nappydaysagain · 10/01/2011 10:50

Hi sorry I don't have any advice for you but didn't want your post to go unanswered.

Did your doctor discuss whether the anti-depressants were safe to take whilst breast feeding? I would have assumed they aren't but hopefully someone in the know will be along soon with some helpful advice.

Scootergrrrl · 10/01/2011 10:57

Have googled for you and it seems valerian is not advised for use when breastfeeding because it hasn't been proven safe. It hasn't been proved UNsafe either but I suppose that's not the issue. I hope you can find something which helps. La Leche League or the NCT might be able to advise you more. Wishing you all the strength you need to get through.

FrozenNorthPole · 10/01/2011 12:13

Hi - I would suggest you talk to your doctor about amitriptyline if you do decide to go down the pharmacological route. A close friend has been taking it for depression and to help her sleep (75mg dose at bedtime). It has one of the best safety profiles in pregnancy and breastfeeding - obviously nothing is 100% guaranteed safe, but it's a tricyclic rather than an SSRI so has been around for quite a bit longer than the SSRI class of drugs (Seroxat and simmilar). Hoping that things can feel less anxious for you soon.

FrozenNorthPole · 10/01/2011 12:14
  • similar. Sorry, office heating broken and fingers numb.
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