Melatonin is a powerful sleep aid. The pineal gland produces Melatonin naturally in the brain as a response to darkness. When the lights go out, we start to feel drowsy. Melatonin levels are highest just before bedtime and affect sleep cycles. Melatonin supplements are often used by persons who have jet lag (traveling from one time zone to another) or those who work at night and sleep during the day.
A new mother may be eager to get some much-needed sleep. Unfortunately, Melatonin might not be the best solution. There are many safer alternatives available.
The effects of taking Melatonin while breastfeeding are unknown, but we know this drug is found in breast milk. Therefore, it could affect your baby’s sleep cycles as well.
Melatonin may also have a detrimental effect on other hormone levels.
Healthcare professionals believe that if a child has too much Melatonin in their system, it could be detrimental to growth and development.
Taking Melatonin may cause you to sleep so deeply that you do not hear your baby’s cry. It would be best if you breastfed on-demand during the first few weeks after birth to establish your milk supply. If you do not hear your baby crying, you might breastfeed less, resulting in a low milk supply.
Melatonin cannot be taken when bed-sharing, which is unfortunate because bed-sharing is one way to sleep more extended stretches at night.
Interesting fact: The 2007 Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing found that breastfeeding mothers sleep on average 45 minutes more than their formula-feeding counterparts.
Tips for Breastfeeding Mothers
Drink a glass of warm milk before bedtime. This helps to induce sleepiness due to high levels of L-tryptophan. Other foods high in Tryptophan are spirulina, soy nuts, cottage cheese, chicken liver, pumpkin seeds, turkey, chicken, tofu, watermelon seeds, almonds, peanuts, and yogurt. Garbanzo beans, however, are loaded with the best form of Tryptophan.
Many fantastic, safe herbal remedies are available to breastfeeding mothers, including the following to combat insomnia, Chamomiletea and passionflower tea.
Ways to Increase Natural Melatonin Levels
Try to keep artificial light to a minimum in the evenings.
Blue light blocks Melatonin from being produced. Avoid LED light exposure from bulbs, computer screens, cell phones, and televisions closer to bedtime.
Being exposed to bright sunlight during the day increases the production of Melatonin at night.
Eat Melatonin-rich foods such as cherries, goji berries, walnuts, almonds, pineapple, tomatoes, bananas, and oranges.
A warm bath in the evening will relax your body and help with Melatonin levels. As cortisol levels decrease, Melatonin levels increase.
Reduce WIFi and EMF at night. Exposure to these at night may decrease Melatonin levels. Switch your Wifi off at night. Switch off all cell phones and computers at night.
Any relaxation will boost Melatonin. Therefore things like meditation or prayer will help.
Watching something funny in the evenings before bedtime has been proven to improve natural Melatonin levels.
I’m Tracy Behr, a qualified wellness and nutrition coach, breastfeeding advocate, and homeschooling mom of two. For over sixteen years, I’ve been helping mothers navigate breastfeeding challenges through my website breastfeeding-problems.com I combine evidence-based knowledge with real-life experience to help parents feel more confident in their breastfeeding journey. I’ve experienced firsthand that breastfeeding isn’t always as easy as we expect. When I had my babies, I faced my own challenges and quickly saw just how much support and clear guidance moms truly need. That’s why I started this website—to share what I’ve learned, offer encouragement, and help other moms feel less alone on their breastfeeding journey.