My wife is on her third day of a major attack of insomnia. She is breast feeding. Could she take a benadryl?

I'm looking for a fairly quick qualified answer at 2 in the morning. I just got off the phone with my insurance companies ask a nurse program. She told me about as much as the side of the box, "consult a doctor if breast feeding". She did confirm that many over the counter sleeping aids have benadryl. They gave my wife darvicet for pain after the c-section and that's a narcotic. Isn't it like a synthetic opiate? Anyhow that was ok while she was breast feeding so I'm thinking benadryl should be less dangerous.

have her express as much as she can into a bottle...or 2 and have that for the babys next few feedings. THEN she can take the benedryl as long as she doesn't have to nurse for at least 12 hours.

She shouldn't be ingesting any unnatural products while breast-feeding.

No.

No, I would not give her Benadryl or any meds at all. She is breastfeeding and the drug can and probably will reach the baby through her milk. Give her a nice massage instead! Always puts me to sleep as it is very soothing. Your wife's body and hormones will come back to normal after a while. Can you help with the night feeds by giving the baby breast milk from a sterilised bottle so that her sleep is not interrupted through the night?

Hi,

Benadryal is not the medicine for insominia.
Sleeplessness can be caused due to a variety of reasons. These may vary from disturbance due to external noise to specific sleep disorders.


External noise or bright light that hinders sleep

Excessive intake of caffeine containing beverages like coffee and tea

Excessive consumption of alcohol

Stress, anxiety and depression

Certain severe and long-lasting illnesses like prostatitis, cystitis, arthritis etc.

Chronic pain

Side effects of certain drugs used to treat hormonal imbalance, or stimulate the nervous system

Abrupt stoppage of previous medications or introductions of new ones

Shift in place of residence or work

Jet lag

鈥淐atnaps鈥?or sleeping during the day

Heavy exercise just before going to sleep

A state of excitement hampers sleep

Indigestion or other stomach ailments


The best way to prevent insomnia is to develop good sleeping habits. A routine should be maintained of going to sleep and getting up at the same time everyday. This helps set a body clock for a predictable sleep schedule. Regular exercise is important for a healthy body, but it should not be done within 2 hours of bedtime. Beverages containing caffeine should be limited. A light snack of milk or meat can be taken just before bedtime. These foods have a natural sleep inducer which helps to bring on sleep.

A patient should not force himself to sleep. Leisure activities like reading or listening to soft music at bedtime help to relax. A comfortable bedroom temperature should be maintained. The surroundings should be conducive to sleeping; they should be away from loud noises or any other disturbing stimuli.

Certain medications like diazepam may be prescribed to treat the disorder which basically calm the nerves and help a person relax so as to be able to sleep easily. But these drugs are prescribed only as a last resort, since some of them may have side effects that may compound the problem. Also long term use of these drugs may cause dependence on them and the person may not be able to sleep at all without taking the drugs.

no, benadryl isnt good.
i had pregnancy insomnia and they made me take unisom (only in the first trimester) and melatonin when i breastfed.

Benadryl actually will dry up the milk supply... but thats only if you take it regularly... It is OK to take it once in a while but not everyday. I know this bc right after I had my daughter (I breastfed for 1yr) I had an allergic reaction to Ibuprofen & I knew benadryl would dry me up (my OBGYN told me) so I called her and asked what I could do & she said one dose of benadryl wouldn't dry me up or cause anyharm to the baby... you just cant take it regularly... anyway hope I helped

Just tell her to take a relaxing bath and hopefully things will settle down and she can get some sleep. How long ago was her C-section???