Insomnia when breastfeeding - can the Doctor do anything?

[SurreyArmyWife]

I had a little boy 5 months ago. Since then his sleep has improved whilst mine has hit an all time low. Tonight I've been trying it get to sleep since his last feed at 9pm. I know he will be up in an hour or so to be fed, and I'm struggling to cope with no sleep. A month ago I visited the doctors in tears about the situation and they basically said as I'm breastfeeding there isn't anything they can do. I just wanted to ask if anyone else had been in a similar situation, is there any hope? I really don't want to give up breastfeeding, but I've never felt as low as I do at night. I'm not sure how to carry on. Thank you.

You poor thing. Lack of sleep is so hard.

Why do you think the lack of sleep is connected to bf'ing? Or is it just the case that the doc can't prescribe anything to help you sleep because of bf'ing?

All I could think of is to look into natural remedies and / or relaxation techniques to help you sleep. Perhaps the GP could even refer you on somewhere? Otherwise all I can think of is to get plenty of fresh air and exercise during the day and to eat well. Also when lying awake try to relax even if you can't sleep.

Would staying up a bit later than 9pm help? I know you must be shattered but perhaps a later bed time of maybe 10.30 and perhaps a glass of wine might help? (Speaking from personal experience here and yes I am bf'ing!).

Thank you BonaDea. I've never had sleep problems like this before having my baby. I was hoping there was something that could be prescribed that is safe to take whilst breastfeeding. Tonight I just can't get to sleep. I know I will have to be up in a couple if hours, and the thought of facing the day on no sleep is depressing me. I already feel shaky. Wine has made my sleep worse in the past. Maybe I should try going to bed later, but I'm at the point where sleep has become my obsession.

First post ever on here after a year of lurking!! Eeeeekk. Just wanted to say I could have written your post, only I am at 11 months now and it is just beginning to get better. I used to looooove sleep and could fall asleep in seconds, then I stopped being able to at all and even now I struggle, just because my sleep pattern has been completely thrown out in the newborn days etc etc. The Dr couldn't prescribe me anything a few months ago because I am still breastfeeding, although I'm not doing night feeds anymore (well 5am but that's another story) because it would still be in my system in the morning. I tried herbal tablets but they didn't do anything and wine seemed to make it worse! The only thing that has helped me, after trying counting down from 100, sheep, etc etc, is to realise that you can actually function on very little sleep, and that helped me to relax enough to start dozing off, if you see what I mean. Lying awake panicking about still being awake just made it so much worse. I started to go to bed with the mindset that any sleep I got at all would be a bonus, and that in itself really helped me relax. So you can do it! (I am worried that by posting this I have jinxed it all! But just wanted to share that I have been through exactly the same thing)...

Thanks Cookiedough. It's good to hear it gets more bearable. You're right, when I've got up, had a shower and dressed I feel so much better, but lying awake in the middle of the night is horrible. Tonight I'll try not to put too much pressure on myself to get to sleep.

I think is inevitable to some extent when you have a baby. I've lain awake just waiting, thinking the baby's going to wake up in an hour and that stops me sleeping. Its like why try and sleep when you're only going to be woken shortly. Even now dd sleeps quite well sometimes I get into that mindset and take a while to drift off.

It does get better, eventually when your baby starts sleeping longer your brain and body adjust and makes it easier to drift off.

I had this very badly! you could try cutting out screens and bright light in the evening (no mn on yo url mobile!) as well as a cup of warm milk. porridge is also a good thing to have for supper to help sleep.

however-

for me this was a symptom of mild pnd and also that my thyroid was struggling (which was odd as usually you'd get more sleepy - I could only surmise my body was pumping full of adrenaline to help me cope). my thyroid beds were adjusted but it wasn't until I tried a low dose of an anti d, sertraline, that I began to be able to sleep between wakes (he's a terrible sleeper!) and feel ok in the day. in fact, feel great!

tbh I'm surprised that the Dr didn't pick up on your insomnia as a possible issue for pnd or thyroid as it's a major symptom for both. I'd ask for a thyroid test to rule it out (as post partum thyroiditus is common) and discuss trying a low dose of sertraline - I tried 50 but you can have 25 and raise it if needed. highest dose is 200. hope things settle soon!

Thanks BoohPear and Clarella. In the end the GP prescribed me amitriptyline. She explained that it was an anti depressant, but that at the low dose I would be taking it just works to ease insomnia. I took it yesterday, but still had an awful night. If like she says the effect is cumulative I hope that things will improve with time. I'm trying to make bed time as restful as possible, and realise I can survive on only a little sleep. I don't think I'm depressed, I only feel down about being so tired. I'm not sure about my thyroid, I'm about a stone lighter than when I became pregnant, so I don't think it's under active. I'm glad my husband is off work today and can help - I think I'm going to have a lazy day :-)

Try downloading The Weekly Political Review podcast from R4. I find it very effective for insomnia. There are lots of R4 podcasts that I use to help me fall asleep. Low, soothing voices talking on and on.

We also used a lullaby CD with DD for months. It now puts DH and I into a very sleepy state if we hear it. Doesn't seem to have the same effect on DD

They can give you amitriptyline. An older anti depressant, totally safe for breast feeding at a low dose. That should knock you out like a light.

I had insomnia at just the same point. DS started to sleep a bit better and my sleep just got so much worse! I did go on to be diagnosed with PND and anxiety and have been on sertraline since he was 11mo. I generally sleep much better now. I have accepted though now that I can cope on far less sleep than I ever thought possible, managing a whole day at work teaching children on no sleep at all was an achievement I am proud of but don't wish to repeat! Not sleeping is really rubbish, I hope the meds kick in soon.

that's good - hopefully it will kick in soon. it did take a few weeks for me to feel better with sertraline due to the cumulative effect. re thyroid - I'm sure it's absolutely fine but I actually loose weight when it's bad as my metabolism slows and it's more effort to keep up with life plus am pretty skinny anyway.

hope you get some restful sleep soon!

Paul McKenna 'I can make you sleep' app saved my sanity.

Ooh I used to take amiltriptaline for migraines and dh called it my sleepy pill...I was never a good sleeper but separate issue...as soon as I popped one I was out like a light five mins later!

Hi. Just to say that in the late stages of bfing DD, when I no longer fed her at night, my GP was quite happy to prescribe me a short course of zopiclone - probably depends on the GP though.

Sympathies. I too had this and it was bloody awful. My GP prescribed me Zopiclone, but my DD was sleeping through by then, so it was only the first bf of the day which was an issue. I got round this my expressing some milk the evening before, before I took the Zopiclone.

I only needed to take it for a few days, it seemed to reset my body clock. I had a few tablets left and it still reassures me knowing I'm there. Instead of lying there panicking if I can't sleep, I think 'I can take a tablet if I'm still awake in an hour' and because the pressure's off I fall asleep naturally!

Knowing they're there, I meant!

Thank you for all the support. Last night I slept really well and it made such a difference, I feel normal! Hopefully there will be more good nights than bad in the future :-)

If it continues, do get your thyroid checked. By the time I saw the GP, I was very ill.
I also had palpitations and shaky hands - which I had attributed to caffeine, which I was using to stay alert during the day.

The first day of beta blockers was the best sleep EVER! I did have to give up BF because of the meds, but it sorted the sleeplessness.

welldone!

my only tip (and it is lightweight compared with other advice) is dont look at the time when you wake up / finish feeding / are still awake. and dont count feeds. I tend to have a rough idea but no idea come the morning which is much better than dwelling on it.

I had insomnia at exactly the same point - my baby started to sleep better and I stopped sleeping - I would lie awake waiting for him to wake up or if I did sleep I wouldnt be able to get back to sleep once he had woken me up - Not sure if its because I had got so used to staying awake and being up that I just couldnt switch off. If I worried about it it was even worse. I cut out all caffeine after midday ( needed it in the morning!) no screens etc after 6pm. read before bed and tried not go to bed too early. I also convinced myself that my body knew best and if I wasnt asleep it was because I didnt need to be. Cant believe how I coped but actually I did and after about a month I was back to normal.