Is melatonin safe to take whilst pregnant?

[Sunshineandshowers00]

I have checked NHS website, which states not advised but simply due to zero research. Other sources suggests possibly OK. Bone tired as 6m pregnant, have a one year old who sleeps through but pregnancy is causing me to wake at 4am every day. So SOS and looking for ways to help me sleep through. It’s not caused by anxiety or any physical discomfort, just seems to just happen.

not advised but simply due to zero research
This, rather than ‘possibly okay’, is the advice I would listen to. If your baby has any issues you would always be thinking ‘was it the melatonin?’.

Also following this thread as I have the same problem and query...

I use melatonin infrequently outside of pregnancy and it helps on the odd night when I've had a run of bad nights/insomnia.

I've read that in the US it's used in pregnancy, but have read similar advice to OP here in the UK and I haven't tried it in pregnancy - am currently 6 + 3 with my second and anticipating what's to come!

That’s like most drugs, they’ve not been formally tested on pregnant people. I’m very cautious after a miscarriage so I haven’t taken anything in this pregnancy. But obviously your choice about taking the risk. Exercise like swimming and yoga helps my sleep a lot

My experience of melatonin is that it helps with getting to sleep, but not with staying asleep. So unfortunately it may not help you anyway.

I’d be wondering if it would pass through the placenta. If it did and made baby sleep more then that could affect baby in the same way that alcohol and smoking can - ie lower oxygen uptake by baby.
I would think it’s not as bad as 20 fags or a bottle of wine a day though.
Have you tried anything like a hypnotherapy download for sleep?

Thanks for all the comments. I’ve decided tk make a GP appointment to get their opinion. I’m sure they’ll follow the NHS guidelines re no to Melatonin but curious as to what else they may suggest. I’m very active already hence why I can fall asleep fine, so feel I need to medicate to support the early wake. I have previously taken Melatonin as was reported to be helpful for my low ovarian a reserve and discovered the added benefit of its tranquilizer-like quality but agree that I have same concern re this effect being passed onto baby through planceta. Will update once I’ve seen GP to share.

Please never ask medical advice on here whilst pregnant.

Also going to ask my midwife tomorrow and will update. Be interested to know what your GP says

Kiwis provide a natural source of melatonin especially if you eat the skin. My sleep is much better when I eat one after dinner.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21669584/

Doctor has told me that there is nothing I can take anything during pregnancy to support sleep, unfortunately. @ALM2207 Did you have any luck with your MW?