Breastfeeding insomnia

[Nikamon]

Second night in a row can't sleep. I don't know if it's because of breastfeeding, or what's going on. I gave birth 4 months ago. My TSH has been at 0.0 since 2 months, they say I can't taper off too quickly, so we decrease the dosis by 25mg each month. Now I'm at 25mg. Not sure if it has sth to do with it as the sleeping problem got critical in last few days only. The doctor says there's nothing that can be done medication wise as I'm breastfeeding (but they didn't even make the connection with TSH).

I'm gonna go crazy. Is there really no medical intervention? Could I test for something else, could the problem be somewhere else? I'm not talking difficulty falling asleep, I'm talking lying in my bed from 7pm till 6am and my partner feeding the baby with my pumped milk in another room all night, and me not sleeping. I'm trying relaxation videos, meditation, yoga, reading a book, listening to podcasts. My partner is exhausted as he basically takes care of the baby alone and works full time. Today I finally fell asleep at 6am to wake up at 10am and not be able to sleep anymore. Now I've been lying in bed since 1 hour and again nothing, despite being really, really tired.

I feel so trapped what can I do? I don't even know if stopping breastfeeding will help. I can't get help from a doctor or did I just meet an idiot doctor?

Sorry have nothing useful to offer. Sounds incredibly tough and worth seeing another dr perhaps. I doubt breastfeeding is the cause though (I think it’s supposed to help you sleep - makes you relax etc).

I'd go back to GP.

Also, it seems like there's a lot of stress around sleeping (which is totally understandable).

Few things you could try or think about-

1. Are you getting out in the day time? Getting early morning light is a good way to set our circadian rhythm
2. Caffeine intake
3. No screens an hour before bed
4. If you're not sleeping- don't go to bed so early. If you used to get like 8 hours sleep before and you want to wake up at 7am now, go to bed at 10 read for half an hour then lights out at 1030.
5. Think about any underlying stress (obviously this is a stressful time with a young baby but is there anything else)
6. Don't think 'omg I'm not sleeping' think 'even if I don't sleep at least I'm resting' and try to enjoy the feeling of being in bed.
7. Try a bedtime routine. E.g wash face, brush teeth, moisturise etc. Build some cues that it's sleep time. For me it's putting my mouth guard in that for some reason makes my mind and body go 'Ok it's sleep time' lol.

It's so horrible when you can't sleep. Hope you're snoozing away right now!

All of the above.

I also recommend the odd zopiclone to take at 3.75mg just occasionally to break the cycle. I take it probably once a month and I'm breastfeeding. Definitely need to stop the early morning cat naps they're keeping you in a cycle. Is it hormonal? Not sure. My friend is 6 months pp not breastfeeding and going through similar.