Ambien CR While Breastfeeding- Chronic Lifelong Insomnia

There's are alternatives to Rx sleep aids. The top one is melatonin as some of our bodies don't make enough of it - it's what tells our body it's time to sleep. Also, if you are low in basic minerals and nutrients that can contribute - for example magnesium is really important. Here's an article that lists the top supplements:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/535863/supplemen...
B vitamins are also important for sleep. Do you take a high quality multi? I found that I needed to take a prenatal and extra iron while breastfeeding my second son (and wish I'd known that with my first) - nursing gives the nutrients to the baby at the expense of the mother. Considering how close in age your two kids are, you may well be nutritionally depleted.

Also, regular exercise is really good for inducing higher quality sleep. So, if you don't have a regular exercise program (I know not likely when you have an infant :), you might consider getting back into one - that helps me a whole lot.

You are so right to be concerned about what the baby might be getting and it is so sad to pump and dump and have to use formula instead. Also, the side effects of ambien may make your daytimes worse. What sort of tests did the doctor run before Rxing the Ambien - have all your hormone levels been checked as well as making sure you're not anemic (that can also contribute to sleep problems). Also, taking the Ambien is going to make caring for your infant at nite almost impossible - the night time nursing actually is really, really important in the early days to build your milk supply and since your daughter was early, she likely will really benefit from breastfeeding.

And, on that topic, do they know the reasons your daughter was so early? I ask because my first son was in NICU and I had lots of issues prior to his birth and they never figured things out. In hindsight, I was undiagnosed celiac, which contributed to liver problems and nutritional deficiencies and I was hypothyroid. I didn't learn much of this till years later and would have suffered a whole let less if I had known these things. As, it turns out both my boys inherited my celiac genes and so they suffered for several years as well (both in terms of feel well and their behavior - i.e., tantrums and anger out of nowhere).

In short, my point is that things don't happen in isolation - i.e., there's a root to your sleep problem and taking the Ambien might help in the short term, but ideally if you can figure some things out now, you'll save yourself a whole lot of grief in the long run.

Hi G.,

My husband and I ordered an incredible book off Amazon titled Adaptogens, Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief by Winston and Maimes. It is fascinating. From the book "There is a category of herbs called adaptogens that help the human body adapt to stress, support normal metabolic processes, and restore balance. They increase the body's resistance to physical, biological, emotional, and environmental stressors and promote normal physiologic function".

This section pinpoints the root cause of your problem and offers a solution: "Many people suffer from insomnia and related sleep problems. Stress can disrupt the regular circadian (time-related) secretion of cortisol and can be a major cause of sleep problems. Adaptogens regulate the production of cortisol, reducing stress. A relaxed, less stressful body allows for better and more rejuvenating sleep".

The 10 most potent adaptogens on the earth, with the highest therapeutic and healing properties available, are now delievered in a fast acting oral spray, called Tunguska Mist. Go to www.VitalHealth.TBlast.com to learn more.

I highly recommend you try Tunguska Mist PM. It will help you fall asleep fast and wake refreshed. PM is NATURAL and non-habit-forming. PM will help you relax and fall asleep naturally.

Instead of commercial drugs that can leave you drowsy and fogged in, use PM (a natural sleep aid) for a sound, peaceful night's sleep. The 10 beneficial adaptogens in PM also assist in reducing stress and improve your immune system while you sleep. They taste great and with the intra-oral spray you get over 90% of the nutrients absorbed immediately, which go to work within seconds.

Please let me know if you have any questions. My husband and I have been using adaptogens for a long time. We are passionate about helping people reduce the damaging effects of stress on the body and restoring balance naturally, without medications. Good luck and God Bless:)

Best regards,
N.

This book is the bible for meds and bfing: http://www.amazon.com/Medications-Mothers-Milk/dp/0977226... you can search in it. For Ambien, it says that it clears breastmilk in 4-5 hours after dosage. CR might take longer, I don't know. Also, it says that it is generally compatible with breastfeeding; however, check with your Dr of course. I think the real risk would come with co-sleeping and sleep aids and that's something to keep in mind. Good luck!

Hello G.,

Have you ever tried chiropractic treatments? that may be an alternative. do you get enough calcium and magnesium? how's your vitamin D level? are you allergic to anyfoods that may be hindering your ability to sleep? so many questions...

So, maybe your baby will be a bottle-fed baby... look at it this way, if you don't get any sleep your immune system will collapse and that won't be anygood for your babies either. I'd err on the side of caution and go with formula. try your best. we just don't know enough about these drugs to take chances w/ little ones. keep looking until you get the right answer for you. and if you're concerned then that's your answer. God bless and guide you. ~C.~

I would never take Ambien, only because the doctor gave it to my 10 year old and she had a psychotic episode. It's not for children, and I don't know why he thought it was okay, but it was the worst 24 hours of my life and I think it's a terrible drug.

Whether or not it stays in the breast milk is a big question, but I'd really worry about you sleep-walking with the newborn. It's well known that those on Ambien can do all kinds of things while supposedly asleep .... google the news... and I just don't think it's safe.

Ask a different doctor.