What Is Melatonin?
Melatonin is a chemical that is released by the brain that helps induce sleep as part of thesleep-wake cycle.
Melatonin is also found naturally in breastmilk with concentrations highest during nighttime feedings.
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you’re able to also buymelatonin supplementsat most pharmacies and drugstores.
There are some potentialbenefits and risks to using melatoninat any time, not just while you’re breastfeeding.
You should talk to your provider before trying melatonin.
Possible Benefits
Melatonin has relatively few side effects.
Some people report sleeping longer when taking melatonin, while others report no effect at all.
Its not clear how melatonin might affect a breastfed infant.
You should talk to your provider about what would be safe for you.
If not, they can recommend an alternative.
How to Improve Your Sleep
Drugs and supplements are not the only way to address sleep problems.
By making a few lifestyle changes, you might be able to cope with insomnia without using medications.
Somenon-medication ways to improve your sleepinclude:
For some people, breastfeeding can actually help with insomnia.
You may benefit from seeing a sleep specialist who can perform anovernight sleep study.
Currently, there isn’t enough research to say definitively whether melatonin use while breastfeeding is safe or not.
Lifestyle changes may help overcome insomnia.
This includes improving your sleep habits, exercising routinely, and creating a bedroom environment that fosters sleep.
Speak with your healthcare provider if sleep problems persist.
If needed, you may be referred to a sleep specialist for further investigation.
Give your baby a gift by taking care of yourself.
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