Melatonin and pregnancy

[millefleur]

I am taking Melatonin for insomnia, but I'm TTC and I was told not to take it while pg. Is that true? Does anyone have any experience with Melatonin and pregnancy that they would be willing to share with me? TIA!

[millefleur]

Also, fellow insomniacs, if herbal/natural remedies did not work for you, what did you take while pregnant? It takes a LOT to make me fall asleep, but I want to be safe, obviously. What are some safe (but strong) meds for pregnant insomniacs?

TIA!

[mbravebird]

Melatonin affects/controls fertility, so it would make sense that it affects pregnancy hormones. I don't know specifics, though.

I use nettle infusion (not tea, infusion -- search this forum for a whole thread on it), and if I drink two cups a day, I sleep really well, no matter what. It was the only thing that could keep me asleep during braxton-hicks contractions. It's also really good for pregnancy in general, so go to town on that one.

When I didn't have nettle infusion, I would use honey and coffea cruda(homeopathic) as a subsitute. 1-2 TBS of honey swallowed right before bed will stimulate your own body's melatonin production -- as long as there is NO light in your room. No street lights, no night lights, no clock lights. No light leaks from neighboring rooms. Your body only makes melatonin in the absence of light. Even a flashlight, shone behind a sleeping person's knee, has been shown to stop their melatonin production.
Coffea cruda is a homeopathic remedy that works pretty well, especially in combo with the honey.

Good luck, mama!

[Peony]

I also rely on melatonin to sleep, I do not take it during pg. I did some research on it a few years back when I was pg with DD2 and decided because of the lack of data not to take it. I did not research it again with this last pg. From what I remember, there was some belief that excess levels of melatonin could affect the fetus, I do remember some info saying maybe to try very low doses, like 0.25-0.50mg of melatonin. I normally am not a cautious person, I don't listen to any of the normal pg warnings regarding sushi, soft cheeses, etc... but for whatever reason it rang true for me not to take melatonin while pg.

Nothing else herbal works for my insomnia, pg or not. What does work during pg though and never works when I am not pg is one Tylenol PM or Benadryl. I am not comfortable taking one every night though so I set a limit of every other night. During some parts of my pgs, I sleep well and do not need it, but when the insomnia starts back up then I take it as need be.

[bjorker]

Interesting. I'm 20 weeks pregnant and my midwife just suggested melatonin (among other things) to me for my ever-present sleeplessness. I haven't taken it, but I do trust her. The only reason I hadn't taken it (yet?) is b/c I don't remember it working for me in the past, anyway. I just grabbed some calms forte from Hylands from the store this evening, so I'm going to try that first.

[bjorker]

Originally Posted by millefleur

Also, fellow insomniacs, if herbal/natural remedies did not work for you, what did you take while pregnant? It takes a LOT to make me fall asleep, but I want to be safe, obviously. What are some safe (but strong) meds for pregnant insomniacs?

I don't know how strong it really is, but I was taking Unisom for awhile there for nausea, and it did help me sleep. It seemed to start wearing off a bit, but then when I came off it I realised that it definitely had been helping, because now it takes me a really long time to get to sleep.

[millefleur]

Thanks!