Can You Take Melatonin While Pregnant? Important things you need to know. Find out here!

If you are pregnant, you might be experiencing difficulty in going to sleep. If you’re one of the women whose sleep disruption needs types of interventions, then you might really relate to taking some medications to treat insomnia. The question is; what if these medications are not good for you? Is taking melatonin as a natural alternative is good for pregnant women? In this article I’m going to share with you will include information about taking melatonin while pregnant.

What is Melatonin?

Melatonin is a natural hormone produced by the pineal gland and is involved in normal wake-sleep cycles. It also became an alternative medicine for treating insomnia and some sleep disorders. Besides, it is also effective in treating high blood pressure, jet lags, anxiety that is caused by surgery and insomnia that is caused by withdrawal from drug use.

It can be sold and bought as a dietary supplement and is widely popular for sleep problem medications. The production of melatonin is monitored by Food and Drug Administration because melatonin isn’t classified yet as a hormone or a drug.

In melatonin preparations, the dose is usually higher than our body produces. A dose of it which is 1-3mg increases the level of melatonin up to 20 times.

Can You Take Melatonin While Pregnant?

Melatonin is natural and produced by our body, however not all natural are entire cannot be called safer. As what I have said, these medications exceed the normal level of melatonin our bodies produce. But when can we say when it’s safe or not?

Melatonin might have effects on the women’s reproductive system that’s why there are debates whether it is safe during pregnancy or not.

There are doctors who will say that it’s safe if taken in low dose only but we shouldn’t allow an even small amount of risk right? What actually happens when you take melatonin at a high dosage? There will be an increased possibility of the unborn child to suffer from the developmental disorder. There is also melatonin content in breast milk so when you are breastfeeding you should avoid taking it too.

If you have some medical conditions and you are pregnant, the higher the level of risk, the more you should avoid taking melatonin. Some of these conditions are low blood pressure, depression, high blood pressure, diabetes, and hemophilia.

It is advised though if you are pregnant and with sleeping problems to take medications that have a characterized reproductive profile of safety.

What Can You Do To Avoid Insomnia?

There are a lot of factors why you shouldn’t take melatonin while pregnant. However, your sleeping problem is still there. I listed some of the things that you can do to avoid insomnia and other sleep-related problems so you can turn away from taking medications like melatonin.

● Bedtime Routine

As a mother, you are creating a soothing environment for your unborn baby but you can also create a relaxing bedtime routine for yourself. The things you can do is to take a warm bath, listen to a calm music, drink a cup of chamomile tea and read a relaxing book. If you want to keep unwanted light, you can wear an eye mask.

● Sleep on One Side

It is recommended for a pregnant woman like you to sleep on your side while you hug your pillows with your knees. Avoid sleeping on your back on your stomach because it will cause discomfort.

● Try Natural Supplements

There are a lot of natural supplements you can take. For example in my case, I take tart cherry extract and maca. It will help alleviate your sleeping problems like it did for me. However, when it comes to vitamins and supplements, it is still important to consult your doctor.

● Do Some Breathing Exercises

Breathing exercises will assist you in relaxing and in falling asleep. Take a long deep and hold it for a few seconds. Repeat the process for few times until you can’t feel the tension anymore.

● Guided Imagery

When you are pregnant, you can’t sleep because you are too anxious about becoming a new mother and your pregnancy. Anxiety is one of the many reasons while you cannot sleep however there are things that you can do to fall asleep. I know one technique that is effective; it is called a guided imagery. You picture yourself in a good place, like in a beach and in a park. If your mind is wandering, it’s easy for you to ease into sleep.

Conclusion

I hope that you find this article informative. There are still a lot of research that ought to find out that melatonin is 100% safe for pregnant women but as for now it’s safe to be safe right? Every time you decide to take supplements, consult your doctor first! Anyway, I hope that the tips I gave you will be useful. There are natural things to treat sleeping disorders, trust yourself that your body can do it. Leave a comment if you like my article! Thank you for reading!