Several over-the-counter medications for sleep are considered safe during pregnancy. The antihistamines diphenhydramine and
Taking melatonin supplements helps some people with sleep difficulties fall asleep more easily. Providers may suggest melatonin supplements during pregnancy for people who continue having trouble falling asleep even after trying non-medication alternatives.
Interestingly, the placenta produces melatonin and this source of melatonin is thought to be important to a normal, healthy pregnancy. In animal studies, it has been shown that supplementation with melatonin decreases the risk of pre-eclampsia, preterm birth and intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR).
Other sleep aids considered safe by the FDA include Unisom and Nytol. Only use these over-the-counter medications, including melatonin, short-term and sparingly while pregnant, and always consult your doctor beforehand.
Baths before bed are a proven way to help relax and prepare your body for sleep. According to a 2019 study, warm baths taken an hour or two before bedtime were found to help regulate core body temperature and improve sleep. Ross recommends taking a warm bath with candles, epsom and bath salts and bath oils.
Alternatives to Taking Melatonin While Pregnant
With your doctor's sign-off, you can take an antihistamine like doxylamine (Unisom) or diphenhydramine (Benadryl). “Both are proven to be safe in pregnancy and can help with sleep,” says White.
Treating insomnia during pregnancy can be a challenge, with few safe prescription options available. One promising option is magnesium, which has been shown to improve sleep quality, particularly in cases of restless-legs syndrome, and is safe in doses up to 360mg per day in pregnant women.
Avoid having caffeine late in the evening. A non-caffeinated warm drink such as milk may help, or no more than one cup of chamomile tea. If you're in the mood, sex is a good way of getting to sleep, because the feel-good chemicals (endorphins) that are released relax you.
Teas to avoid during pregnancy. Before pregnancy, you may have sipped a cup of chamomile tea to help you nod off. During pregnancy, it's not a good idea. Studies show that if you drink chamomile tea regularly, you may have a higher risk of miscarriage, preterm labor, or low birth weight.
A majority of women experience insomnia during pregnancy with rates as high as 80%. 15 Insomnia is worse in the third trimester. 15 A diagnosis is usually made by clinical history which includes screening for common sleep disorders seen in pregnant women.
Interestingly, the placenta produces melatonin and this source of melatonin is thought to be important to maintaining a normal, healthy pregnancy. In animal studies, it has been shown that supplementation with melatonin decreases the risk of pre-eclampsia, preterm birth and intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR).
The growing belly, the aches, the pains, the heartburn — many women experience sleepless nights long before there's a hungry, crying infant in the picture. Having trouble sleeping is common during pregnancy, says Grace Pien, M.D., M.S.C.E. , assistant professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins Sleep Disorders Center .
However, Valerian is not recommended for pregnant or lactating women as there is no evidence of its safety for the fetus (source: NIH). Therefore, do not drink Sleepytime Extra tea or any tea containing Valerian root while pregnant.
Thankfully, it turns out that if you're pregnant and honey is your cup of tea (or a necessary part of it), it's perfectly safe to indulge, as long as the honey is pasteurized.
Honey is safe for healthy adults to eat, including pregnant women, although you'll want to keep it away from babies until they're over 1 year old.
Magnesium sulfate can cause fetal abnormalities when used for longer than 5-7 days in pregnant women.
Magnesium supplementation during pregnancy may be able to reduce growth restriction of the fetus and pre‐eclampsia (high blood pressure and protein in the urine during pregnancy), and increase birthweight.
Chamomile, or matricaria recutita, is a gentle sleep aid that's safe in pregnancy. It is a nervine, which means it calms the central nervous system and brings everything gently down to support drowsiness and sleep. It can be used to relieve anxiety and rapid thoughts at night, which is a common cause of sleeplessness.
Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. RESTAVIT™ is not known to cause birth defects but studies to prove it is safe for the developing baby have not been done. Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you are breast feeding or plan to breast feed.
Melatonin can pass the placenta and transfer light/dark signals to the fetus [15,16]. During the neonatal period, the production of melatonin by the pineal gland is activated after birth, although it lacks the rhythmic secretion of melatonin until the fetus is 3–5 months old [17].
Melatonin is produced in both the ovary and in the placenta where it protects against molecular mutilation and cellular dysfunction arising from oxidative/nitrosative stress.
One study of older adults with insomnia found that magnesium supplementation at a dose of 500 milligrams daily for eight weeks helped them fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, reduced nighttime awakenings, and increased their levels of naturally circulating melatonin.