insomnia for breastfeeding moms?

[MooseRN]

Hi there,
I am breastfeeding my 11 week old. She does pretty well during the night. Goes to bed at about 8:30, wakes between 2-3 am, and then around 6 am. I am experiencing bouts of insomnia after the 2-3 am feeding. I just lie in bed for about 1-2 hours before I can fall back asleep. has anyone else experienced this too?? It is very exhausting. I fear it will go into the time when I return to work!!
:-(

 

[shopaholic]

I am having some difficulty as well, not falling asleep but staying asleep. My daughter is 1 month old and I keep waking anticipating her waking up as I am still feeding every 2-3 hours. Your problem sounds so frustrating. Have you tried doing anything to relax, read , relaxation exercises or anything else to help you relax? Also don't doom yourself to have the insomnia, I know once I have trouble falling asleep one night, the next night I am so tense it happens again. Cover the clock after the feeding so you don't know how long you are awake , and tell yourself you will fall asleep. If still awake, remind yourself that you have survived without that sleep. I know when I worry about the lost sleep , i am more apt to lose sleep. Keep us posted, hope it improves.

 

[LizN]

RE: I've been there!

Hello there!

I can certainly understand your frustration! This started happening to me when Georgia was a few months old (she's now 1) - I would wake for a feed and not be able to go back to sleep again. It got progressively worse as I would start worrying about the insomnia. Eventually it got to the point where I was having trouble concentrating during the day (which was horrible teaching prechoreographed classes ).

I eventually saw a postpartum child nurse and got a referral to a psychiatrist who diagnosed PND. I was put on Zoloft (an SSRI compatible with breastfeeding) and my insomnia improved out of sight. I also take valerian before bedtime and have a glass of warmed milk (the tryptophan in milk has a calmative effect).

In other words if you feel like you're going mad due to this problem, please consider getting some help/PND. It manifests itself in so many different ways - I didn't think I was depressed as such at the time, but looking back I wasn't feeling as good as I could.

Hope this info helps1
Liz N

 

[dshepperd]

Wow!

Hi Liz,
Remember me? We were pregnant at that same time. It's good to "see" you again!

Anyway, I wish I had known about this back when my Holly was younger. I had horrible problems with insomnia starting when Holly was about a month old and had no idea it could be PND. I never felt depressed either - just overwhelmed and EXHAUSTED! Wish I could have gotten some help since Holly didn't sleep through the night until she was 9 months old. Not being able to get enough sleep made that time a lot harder than it should have been.

Anyway, your information will probably help a lot of other people.

Take care,
Dana

 

[LizN]

RE: Wow!

Hi Dana,

Of course I remember you! Isn't it nice to be out of that "first twelve months" haze? I've just finished up with the Zoloft and crossing my fingers that the insomnia doesn't return. So far, so good!

Hugs to you and your little one!
Liz N