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Postnatal health

As with all health-related issues, please seek advice from a RL health professional if you're worried about anything.

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Original poster

Breast feeding and insomnia

9 replies

Letly · 14/07/2019 12:51

Hi all. Sorry if I've not posted this in the right place, this is my first time.

I'm wondering if anyone has had any experience with what they believe to be breast feeding induced insomnia, or insomnia upon giving up breast feeding? My LO is nearly 7 months and for the past month I've been weaning off the breast. I've never been a good sleeper, even less so since having my eldest child 4 years ago. But over the past month my insomnia has gone off the scale. I seem to remain at the stage where you just start to drift off, and on a good night may achieve a doze on and off for maybe 4 hours. A bad night no sleep at all. I've tried upping the BF again to see if it helps, but it doesn't seem to. I feel I've tried everything there is to try (within bf boundaries) to help me sleep, and no luck. Which makes me wonder if it's hormonal. If anyone has any experience of this please let me know if it passed and if anything helped? It's not associated with pnd, as some of the worst nights have fallen on days where I've felt the best. Thank you xx

OP posts:
MNHQ
JoMumsnet · 15/07/2019 15:04

Hi @Letly, we're going to move your thread over to our Postnatal Health topic (we couldn't decide whether that or Infant Feeding was the best fit for your thread, but hopefully you'll get some support and advice from other Mumsnetters before too long).

Sorry you're going through such a tough time. Flowers Brew

MNHQ
JoMumsnet · 15/07/2019 17:45

And another bump for luck.

Original poster
Letly · 15/07/2019 19:03

Thank you so much. Yes, I would have chosen that subject too :)

OP posts:
Blondiecub0109 · 15/07/2019 19:40

Hi @Letly! I don’t have a definitive answer but am also suffering. My DS has just started weaning (5 m.o.) and for some lifestyle and reflux reasons he’s getting 2 bottles of formula - mid am and mid pm. He’s still fed by me morning, noon, early eve and once or twice in the night.

However my insomnia is off the chart. I believe it’s a known hormonal side effect of reducing BF.

FWIW, we did IVF to have DS and some of the drugs I was given to block natural ovulation had the same insomnia effect (as well as menopause symptoms.

Original poster
Letly · 16/07/2019 11:33

Thank you @Blondiecub0109. It helps SO much to know I'm not alone (although I'm sorry you are also going through this). If I speak of my theory to my partner, friends and even doctor they look at me as if I'm insane, and I was beginning to wonder! I can't find any respectable info online, but maybe haven't been looking in the right places. I currently only feed my DD once in the am, and I express in the evening. I would increase this however since she's started the bottle she has a liking for it! I'm scared to give up BF completely as I believe the hormones are helping me stay positive, and cope with the day on such little/no sleep. Plus I suffered with pnd after DD1 (who I didn't BF for various reasons). But I can see the physical and mental impact the lack of sleep is having on me, and amongst other things do not feel safe to drive. I have a 4 year old so the situation is really not sustainable. But I can't see the sleep returning until perhaps my periods return ?when?!! Urghhh. What do you plan to do? How are you coping? Xx

OP posts:
Nicola8787 · 19/04/2023 14:33

So I know this post is really old but I’m going through the same thing and I’m also convinced it started as a hormonal thing but now it’s making me so anxious. Do you remember if things improved after you stopped breast feeding?

Original poster
Letly · 21/04/2023 09:57

Hi Nicola8787,
I'm so sorry you're going through this. It was awful, as if life isn't already hard enough with a newborn?!!
Ok so I've been on a massive journey with my insomnia, but in summary, yes - it was 100% related to hormones. Most likely abnormally very low progesterone, in my case, which was diagnosed by clinical symptoms and various tests performed by a functional doctor a couple of years ago.
Back then, just after the time of writing, I was put on mirtazipine for the insomnia, which is an anti-depressant that is used off-label as I sleep aid. It did work and I only needed a small amount, but unfortunately I had to stop BF because of it, and when I tried to come off it my insomnia and other unpleasant sleep disorder symptoms began. It's hard to know whether my sleep would have improved with the return of my periods, I believe it would have, had I not been in effect addicted to/withdrawing from the mirtazipine. It's rare to suffer in the way I did, but if you are also particularly sensitive to hormone fluctuations and other changes in your body it's worth considering if you get to the point where you are deciding to medicate or not. Sorry I couldn't offer more help, feel free to ask any questions :-)

OP posts:
Nicola8787 · 21/04/2023 10:01

Thank you so much for replying, so useful to know that about mirtazapine. I had been considering switching to that from sertraline and stopping breast feeding. So glad it’s got better for you

Pelvicpaininthebum · 31/10/2025 18:09

Letly · 21/04/2023 09:57

Hi Nicola8787,
I'm so sorry you're going through this. It was awful, as if life isn't already hard enough with a newborn?!!
Ok so I've been on a massive journey with my insomnia, but in summary, yes - it was 100% related to hormones. Most likely abnormally very low progesterone, in my case, which was diagnosed by clinical symptoms and various tests performed by a functional doctor a couple of years ago.
Back then, just after the time of writing, I was put on mirtazipine for the insomnia, which is an anti-depressant that is used off-label as I sleep aid. It did work and I only needed a small amount, but unfortunately I had to stop BF because of it, and when I tried to come off it my insomnia and other unpleasant sleep disorder symptoms began. It's hard to know whether my sleep would have improved with the return of my periods, I believe it would have, had I not been in effect addicted to/withdrawing from the mirtazipine. It's rare to suffer in the way I did, but if you are also particularly sensitive to hormone fluctuations and other changes in your body it's worth considering if you get to the point where you are deciding to medicate or not. Sorry I couldn't offer more help, feel free to ask any questions :-)

@Letly I know this is an old thread but I'm going through the same. Did you manage to get off the mirtazapine?

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