Is It Safe to Take Melatonin During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding?

Most experts do not recommend taking melatonin supplements during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. The scientists believe the natural melatonin the body secretes is enough to keep the mother and the baby safe. But, pregnancy-induced insomnia is a fact, and numerous women suffer from the severe side-effects of sleeplessness during their pregnancy.

Reasons for pregnancy insomnia

• The pregnant mother faces extreme mood swings due to the raging hormones in her body.
• They worry unnecessarily, overthink and stress out on mild things causing stress and sleeplessness.
• As pregnancy progresses into the third trimester, sleeping comfortably is a great challenge. Back pain and cramps start to appear, disrupting the sleep further.

Sleeplessness might cause severe issues like problems during the delivery, temper issues and affect the growth of the fetus. But doctors still don’t recommend taking melatonin in any external format during pregnancy. Suppose you want to take melatonin while pregnant, get tested if you have any melatonin deficiency and if it comes out ok, try using a very low dosage, naturally derived external melatonin supplement in unavoidable circumstances.

Can melatonin deficiency cause issues during pregnancy?

Melatonin deficiency in pregnant mothers can even cause pre-eclampsia, a condition that leads to preterm delivery. It is common among women who do not get enough sleep during pregnancy. Their blood pressure level elevates after the 20th week and increases water retention in their body, leading to preterm birth.

Taking melatonin with the physician’s advice on close monitoring is advised only in such cases. Doctors ask the mothers to sleep using natural methods like listening to music or medication and taking walks in the morning and night. It helps the melatonin receptors in our cells to understand it is dark and time to sleep.

Why shouldn’t You use melatonin supplements during pregnancy?

Overuse of melatonin like vaping or melatonin creams should be strictly prohibited during pregnancy and breastfeeding because extra melatonin levels lead to severe damage in pregnancy. The placenta secretes melatonin regularly for the baby to stay in its sleepy state all through the day. Boosting it by taking extra melatonin might affect the brain of the baby severely.

Alternative drugs and natural ways to sleep

The most common alternatives to melatonin are doxylamine, also known as Unisom. It is safe to take it during pregnancy as it does not affect the babies. It is also effective in fighting morning sickness when administered in the proper dosage along with Vitamin B6.

Another common sleep drug suggested for pregnant women is Benadryl. Modern-day doctors often avoid prescribing Benadryl because it causes drowsiness, sometimes affecting the mother and the baby.

Natural ways to get sleep during pregnancy is always a wise thing to try. Some of the natural alternatives to get a good night’s sleep are:

• Being grateful and enjoying the pregnancy without stress
• Do not sleep in the daytime or limit day time sleeping less than half an hour to get a good night’s sleep.
• Indulge in pregnancy yoga and first-parent training classes.
• Avoid taking too much caffeine to complete work.
• Use pregnancy pillows and underbelly supports to get a good night’s sleep.

Why no Melatonin during breastfeeding?

When it comes to breastfeeding, remember the baby consumes everything from the mother’s blood. It is necessary to avoid any chemical or extra supplements with compounds that are hard for the baby to digest easily.

The things mothers eat or take as medication during breastfeeding affect the child directly. Taking melatonin supplements might make the child sleep too much, losing out on its natural growth cycle. Besides, the mother will also feel drowsy and not have enough time to take care of the baby and manage the other job, family obligations.

It is wise to avoid taking melatonin supplements during breastfeeding and sleep naturally at any cost. Severe insomnia patients who must take medication to sleep get advised to stop breastfeeding as soon as they resume medication after the pregnancy. 

Avoid using melatonin-based creams while breastfeeding and during pregnancy, as the creams also enter the bloodstream and elevate melatonin levels in the body.

Avoid vape melatonin and skin creams

Vaping melatonin during pregnancy and breastfeeding should be avoided at any cost by the mother, father, and preferably the other family members too. It is always better to vape in another room, ensuring the baby is kept at a safe distance and cannot inhale the dosage. 

Use devices like pen vape to ensure the liquid formula does not spread in the air and the baby inhales even a tiny bit of it. Pregnancy comes with lots of complications and requires every mother to make several minor to major adjustments to give birth to a healthy baby. 

It is also wise to quit using sleep aids like melatonin for the complete safety of the baby and try other natural forms that help in sleeping. Stay away from melatonin creams, too, as over melatonin in the blood might also cause preterm pregnancy in many mothers.