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Can I Take Sleeping Pills During Pregnancy?
I m still breastfeeding my 9 month old son, but ever since hes been born I ve had trouble sleeping at night - can t seem to switch off & when I do its only for a hour or so. I m absolutely exhausted. I ve tried exercise, no caffine, milky drinks, lavender baths, massage & nothing is working & the situation getting worse. Can I take any sleeping tablets short term? I still feed once during the night?
posted on
Fri, 14 Mar 2014
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Thu, 12 Nov 2015
Answered on
Thu, 12 Nov 2015
Last reviewed on
Hello, and I hope I can help you today.
All the over-the-counter medications that are sold in drug stores as sleep aids are safe to use during breast-feeding. They do not cross into breastmilk and will not make your baby sleepy. Check for ingredients such as diphenhydramine or doxylamine succinate as these are very effective when taken for sleep at the recommended dosage.
In addition, certain prescription sleep aids are also safe to take while pregnant or breast-feeding. If the over-the-counter products don't work, ask your obstetrician for a recommendation for a prescription product.
I hope that I was able to adequately answer your question today, and that my advice was helpful.
Best wishes, and I hope you get some sleep,
Dr. Brown
All the over-the-counter medications that are sold in drug stores as sleep aids are safe to use during breast-feeding. They do not cross into breastmilk and will not make your baby sleepy. Check for ingredients such as diphenhydramine or doxylamine succinate as these are very effective when taken for sleep at the recommended dosage.
In addition, certain prescription sleep aids are also safe to take while pregnant or breast-feeding. If the over-the-counter products don't work, ask your obstetrician for a recommendation for a prescription product.
I hope that I was able to adequately answer your question today, and that my advice was helpful.
Best wishes, and I hope you get some sleep,
Dr. Brown
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