Hi all, I don't post here very often but I could really use some encouraging words and/or stories. Sorry for the long post. My baby boy is 7.5 months old I have been breastfeeding on demand. I got my period when he was 6.5 m old. About 2 weeks ago when I was due to ovulate again I started experiencing horrible insomnia. It is to the point where I can't fall asleep at all on my own and have been sleeping 1-4 hours most night (even though baby is sleeping). I ended up in the ER on Friday because I was so desperate and I couldn't get in to see a doc. They prescribed me ambien but last night I only slept from 10:30-1:30 am on 2 ambien. I am feeling really desperate. Anyone have experience (positive stories only please) with anti-anxiety meds when breastfeeding or post partum anxiety? I am also worried I am going to have to stop breastfeeding to get the treatment I needbut my little guy is MPSI and is rejecting the hypoallergenic formula and I don't have that much stash left, so it is stressing me out even more! Thanks in advance for any advice or words or encouragement :-)
if you want to ask one of your own doctors, i would ask your pediatrician, they seem to be more knowledgeable about drugs and BFing.
if you haven't already, i would also consider seeing a therapist. going to therapy in combination with medication has been shown to have better outcomes than medication alone.
I developed a horrible case of Insomnia from 4months PP that lasted about 2 months. I am now 12 months PP and still struggle a little with sleep every now and then, but it's not that big of a deal. Once I figured out it was anxiety/adrenaline I started sleeping better (I was convinced for awhile it was hormonal, but now I realize it was just a self-fulfilling prophecy). There are quite a few sleep meds to try if you want to go that route. A few I tried were Remeron, Trazodone, and Vistaril. They worked great for me for a short time, but I really needed to get the sleep phobia anxiety under control.
I changed jobs at about 6 months PP and took a week off of work in between the old and new job. I slept beautifully that whole week which helped me realize that this was all related to anxiety and being in "mom mode" 24/7. I needed to find a way to unwind everyday. I had essentially developed a sleep-phobia and that adrenaline pumping in me at night was keeping me awake which I suspect is maybe why Ambien isn't working for you because your adrenaline is taking over.
I am taking a sleep med right now at a very low dose and in the process of weaning off it which is really challenging only because I've classically conditioned myself to think I need it. I have learned a great deal about sleep and how fascinating the mind really is. Please PM me if you have questions, I'm happy to help
TTC since April 2011. DH Dx MFI in February 2012. BFP #1: 7.16.12. MMC dx: 8.22.12, D&C 8.28.12, TTC Again November 2012. DH Varicocele repair November 2012; Repeat SA showed "dramatic" improvement February 2013 (awesome!)
BFP #2: 3.26.13, EDC: 12.7.13. Anya born December 9th, 2013!
Thanks all! I really appreciate the advice and support. I am feeling a lot better today because I got a decent night's sleep last night with the meds and I finally got an appointment with a psychiatrist scheduled for tomorrow! I am feeling so much better now that I have a plan.
Re: Breastfeeding and anxiety meds
https://www.infantrisk.com/
you can also ask questions about specific medications in their forums and they will get back to you there.
additionally, you can look up specific medications on LactMed: https://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT
if you want to ask one of your own doctors, i would ask your pediatrician, they seem to be more knowledgeable about drugs and BFing.
if you haven't already, i would also consider seeing a therapist. going to therapy in combination with medication has been shown to have better outcomes than medication alone.
GL!
I developed a horrible case of Insomnia from 4months PP that lasted about 2 months. I am now 12 months PP and still struggle a little with sleep every now and then, but it's not that big of a deal. Once I figured out it was anxiety/adrenaline I started sleeping better (I was convinced for awhile it was hormonal, but now I realize it was just a self-fulfilling prophecy). There are quite a few sleep meds to try if you want to go that route. A few I tried were Remeron, Trazodone, and Vistaril. They worked great for me for a short time, but I really needed to get the sleep phobia anxiety under control.
I changed jobs at about 6 months PP and took a week off of work in between the old and new job. I slept beautifully that whole week which helped me realize that this was all related to anxiety and being in "mom mode" 24/7. I needed to find a way to unwind everyday. I had essentially developed a sleep-phobia and that adrenaline pumping in me at night was keeping me awake which I suspect is maybe why Ambien isn't working for you because your adrenaline is taking over.
I am taking a sleep med right now at a very low dose and in the process of weaning off it which is really challenging only because I've classically conditioned myself to think I need it. I have learned a great deal about sleep and how fascinating the mind really is. Please PM me if you have questions, I'm happy to help