The mental and emotional state of the mother during lactation is an extremely important factor. And this is not a question of philosophy or pedagogy, but of pure physiology: adrenaline, produced by the adrenal glands during stress, suppresses one of the two most important hormones that ensure normal breastfeeding - oxytocin. When the amount of this hormone decreases, milk secretion becomes significantly more difficult, which causes a new stressful state in the mother, again leading to the production of adrenaline.
To get out of the vicious circle, a woman can resort to drug treatment, and then the question arises: how safe is a sedative for nursing mothers and their babies? In this article we will talk about the most popular sedatives that mothers can take, as well as how to improve their well-being without the help of medications.
Why is mom nervous?
There are many reasons for frustration, and sometimes several occur at once. A mother who is not prepared for everyday difficulties is often unable to cope with her experiences.
Postpartum depression
One of the main causes of poor psychological well-being is postpartum depression.
It happens to every woman, it’s just that some experience it more easily, others more severely. There is a scientific explanation for the occurrence of postpartum depression. The reason is hormonal changes. At the time of labor, there is a strong release of endorphins, which are responsible for feelings of happiness, peace and contentment. They help relieve stress and pain. But after childbirth, the formation of these chemical compounds decreases sharply. Feelings of joy are replaced by bad mood and depression. At the same time, there is a layering of everyday problems:
- Difficulties in relationships with a husband, who manages to pay less attention, less time for communication and discharge of emotions.
- Lack of communication with other people: the woman is “closed” within four walls and in caring for the baby.
- The woman is experiencing psychological stress because her lifestyle has changed. Against this background, tearfulness, a feeling of self-pity, dissatisfaction with appearance, spoiled figure, etc. arise.
- Difficulties in caring for a newborn: sleepless nights, fatigue, constant crying, emerging ailments in the baby.
- Experiences if the baby is diagnosed with any developmental disabilities or temporary illnesses.
These factors indicate that a woman needs time to get used to a new life and a new role. But what to do if depression does not subside, should you continue to endure it or take the help of psychologists and medications?
How does it affect the health of a newborn?
- Persen is safe for the baby's health.
- Novopassit can be used while breastfeeding, but only after consulting a doctor. The child may become drowsy.
- Motherwort is safe for babies.
- Valerian can cause allergies. Also, children who take the drug for a long time may experience constipation. In this case, infants may experience the following reactions: lethargy or overexcitement.
- Glycine should not be used only if there is an individual intolerance to the drug. Side effects - allergic reactions.
What or who will help?
If your psychological condition worsens, you should not start taking medications on your own.
Important! For successful therapy, first of all, it is necessary to establish the cause of this condition.
If the cause is hormonal changes in the body, there are only one way for a woman to recover. But if the cause of this condition is any physiological problems, the recovery methods will be different.
You should not take medications to treat postpartum depression without first consulting your doctor.
Should you see a doctor?
To determine the real cause of a woman’s condition, professional consultation is necessary.
Often, postpartum hormonal levels are accompanied by problems with the thyroid gland, which is responsible for the production of hormones. Starting to take sedative pills, a woman will only worsen the situation, since she needs a doctor’s consultation and quality treatment. Only after examination and passing the necessary tests will a complete picture of the physiological state be visible.
If a woman is physically healthy, but depression brings psychological discomfort, it is important to seek the help of specialist doctors: psychologists, psychotherapists or psychiatrists.
- A psychologist will listen and give advice on how to survive this period of life, how to cope with difficulties. But he cannot prescribe drugs because he does not have a medical degree.
- A psychiatrist, having a medical specialization, determines the cause of this condition and prescribes medication. He decides what sedative a mother can use while breastfeeding.
- A psychotherapist is a specialist who combines the two professions mentioned above; he treats using medicinal and non-medicinal methods.
Can breast milk disappear under stress?
Breastfeeding a baby is a natural process that has a beneficial effect on the baby’s health. If a woman is often nervous, milk may disappear. In this case, milk secretion is usually disrupted. Oxytocin is responsible for the release process. When the stress hormone suddenly begins to be released into the blood, the female body begins to actively defend itself and at the same time stop the supply of milk.
Stress may be present in a woman all the time, but this does not mean that milk may disappear forever. After a short time, the body returns to normal, gets used to stressful situations and gradually restores milk production.
Constant contact of the woman's breasts with the baby will help to quickly return milk.
What sedatives are allowed while breastfeeding?
Since a woman’s use of medications is approached with caution when breastfeeding, experts have developed a list of approved medications. What sedative can you use while breastfeeding? Such sedatives with a sedative effect have a number of characteristics that make them acceptable for use during lactation:
- the components of the product must be harmless to the mother and baby;
- are absorbed into the baby’s natural food in minimal quantities;
- if the volume of the substance that enters the baby is large, it should not cause harm.
When breastfeeding, medications taken must be safe for both mother and baby
Should I accept it or not?
When the question arises about the need for admission, it is important to determine the pros and cons. When drug-free treatment does not help, it is better for a woman to use mild sedatives, which are allowed during breastfeeding, than to start the problem and wait until she needs to take strong drugs, since depression can give way to psychosis. You need to know what sedatives are available during lactation. Even approved medications are taken with caution, monitoring the baby’s reaction.
Negative effects of drugs and contraindications
There are sedatives that are prohibited during lactation. A large list of antidepressants and drugs containing alcohol are not allowed to be taken; their active substances penetrate into milk and put a strain on the poorly developed digestive system and on the baby’s liver. They are not able to cope with it.
Even drugs approved for use can cause adverse reactions such as:
- allergies;
- the appearance of a reverse effect: anxiety, insomnia, excessive excitability;
- reduction in lactation volumes;
How do sedatives affect a newborn?
Taking sedatives can cause nervousness and poor sleep in a child.
Once in the baby's natural food, sedatives allowed during breastfeeding do not have a negative effect on the baby if the norm and duration of use are observed. But each case is individual, if a negative reaction is noticed, the use must be stopped. A sedative may act on a baby as follows:
- malfunctions in the digestive system of the baby;
- the appearance of allergic reactions;
- sleep disturbance, baby anxiety.
If the process is not started, diagnosed and taken in time, serious consequences can be avoided. In severe cases, it is necessary to solve problems with weaning temporarily or permanently.
Contraindications to the use of sedatives
Sometimes not only pregnancy, but also breastfeeding is a contraindication to the use of sedatives and hypnotics. You need to carefully monitor your health and, if there are no direct indications for using the drug, stop taking it.
Contraindications to the use of these drugs during breastfeeding:
- Simultaneous use of several drugs that have a sedative and hypnotic effect.
- Drinking alcohol and smoking.
- Allergic reactions to drug components.
- Changes in infant behavior after a nursing mother takes medication.
Which sedative should a nursing mother choose?
It is prohibited to start using sedatives on your own while breastfeeding.
Important! Only the doctor selects the drug and sets the required dose and course duration in accordance with the indicators of the nursing mother’s condition.
Motherwort
When breastfeeding, the mother can use a natural sedative - Motherwort. It has no side effects, except for individual intolerance. The action appears slowly, the effect of taking it occurs by the 3rd week.
Since the effect on feeding and the structure of natural food has not been fully studied, it is not recommended to take it for a long time and only the prescribed doses should be used. It is not advisable to use alcohol; preference is given to the drug in the form of pills.
Valerian
Valerian root has a rich composition. This remedy has no recorded negative manifestations, unless you increase the recommended dose and duration of the course. If the volume of consumption is not observed, the infant may experience: diarrhea or constipation, being in an excited or calm state, poor sleep, accumulated alkaloids that can cause disruptions in the heart, allergic reactions. The result does not come immediately, but it has a stable, long-lasting effect, it is important to wait for it and not increase the dose.
Valerian is also recommended for external use: in aromatherapy, added to base oil during massage, and rubbed on temples.
Persen
A combined remedy containing the two above components: motherwort, valerian and mint. But the instructions contain a warning about use during breastfeeding, since the product contains mint, which helps reduce milk production. Although these data have not yet been fully confirmed. But mint is included in the list of plants that are carefully taken by a nursing mother, so menthol esters penetrate into the baby’s food, affect the baby’s heart function and change blood pressure.
Novo passit
An even more complex remedy consisting of seven herbs. The instructions say that it is not intended for use during lactation. But there is no reliable information about the ability to penetrate into the natural food of infants.
Glycine
Glycine helps normalize metabolic processes and regulates metabolic processes in the central nervous system. It is applied for:
- improved sleep;
- eliminates symptoms of nervousness and excessive fatigue;
- increases brain function;
- improves metabolic processes.
Use is permitted while breastfeeding. Substances that penetrate into a baby’s food in a small volume are not capable of causing significant harm to him.
Reviews
Let’s learn from their reviews how nursing mothers deal with fatigue and stress.
I drank motherwort for about 3 weeks and began to notice some kind of apathy. Your car breaks down and you need 10 thousand for repairs? Nonsense! Standing in line at the clinic with two children for an hour? Phew, it’s like I’m standing every day. Etc. But the climax was the moment when we were driving in the car, and I sat and thought: well, here we go. And where and why, I don’t care...))) From that day on, I didn’t drink anymore. Calm remained for a couple of months.
RU
https://otzovik.com/review_2501424.html
The instructions say to take Persen 3-4 tablets three times a day. But I took 1 tablet twice. The first week I just slept on the go, I constantly wanted to sleep. Then everything returned to normal. I felt the result after a couple of weeks, I became much calmer. I took it for a month, but when I stopped taking it, the effect of Persen ended. And I decided to drink for another month, but three times a day. The result came immediately, after a month the result remained. I didn't become indifferent, but I became much calmer.
angelochek2006
https://otzovik.com/review_2705290.html
I took Novo-Passit throughout my pregnancy (it’s a stressful job), and then when I was on breastfeeding! In general, it’s better to drink it in a course, and not so simply when you’re worried! My doctor advised me to do so, but I never completed a single course :))
Irina
https://www.babyblog.ru/community/post/breastfeed/258333
When I arrived from the maternity hospital, I bawled like a beluga for a week, both the pediatrician and the gynecologist advised me to drink Persen in tablets, it helped me a lot, now I live and enjoy my baby, we are on breastfeeding;) You can also drink motherwort forte. If you drink motherwort herb brewed, it certainly calms you down, but the brain generally switches off from it. Novopasit is definitely not possible.
EseniyaEsenina
https://www.baby.ru/community/view/3335924/forum/post/23850170/
Finally, we survived this terrible moment, we just need to calm down on our own, and this is difficult to do. To begin with, I decided to defuse the situation in the house, my husband helped me with this, we started doing everything together, if we play with the children, then together, we eat and go to bed together, turning off the TV and leaving all the things for the morning that we didn’t have time to do today, we went for a walk , had fun, basically everything you always do and don’t pay any attention to it. And everything somehow returned to normal and fell into place.
Oksana
https://www.baby.ru/community/view/3335924/forum/post/23850170/
I read all the reviews and realized that everything is not so bad for me! Of course, I’m lashing out at my 2.9 year old son, and this definitely needs to be treated. I take glycine 2-3 times a day on the recommendation of the pediatrician, it helps a little, but it’s a little easier. What helps me personally is half an hour of full (without children and husband) exercise, especially yoga, which is full on YouTube. Then I walk around all day happy with myself, and I’m all so kind and kind))). But it’s not every day that you can force yourself to get up in the morning while the children are sleeping. But the effect is great!!
Katerina
https://www.baby.ru/community/view/3335924/forum/post/23850170/?page=3#comments
Analogs from traditional medicine
During breastfeeding, it is recommended to use non-traditional sedatives, which consist of natural ingredients and, when used properly, do not have a harmful effect on the nursing mother and baby.
List of drugs that can replace medications
When breastfeeding, as a sedative, the mother can use:
- infusions of herbs and consumption of teas that have a calming effect;
- aromatherapy;
- massage treatments and baths using aromatic oils.
Soothing teas - recipes
There are specially formulated herbal teas for mother and baby on sale. These include products with mint and fennel, dill water, etc. It is recommended to take decoctions and infusions instead of tablets. The preparations are sold in pharmacies or you can prepare them yourself. These include:
- valerian (root);
- passionflower;
- motherwort (inflorescences);
- Melissa;
- mint.
Important! Mint has a suppressive effect on lactation, so it is advisable to exclude or minimize its use.
Herbs are brewed according to the instructions, since changing the dosage and brewing time has a negative effect on the body. It is recommended to brew fresh infusions every day.
How do they affect the body of mother and baby?
All herbs, if the dosage is changed, have side effects on mother and baby:
- cause allergies;
- the baby may refuse to take the breast;
- the baby becomes lethargic, inactive, and may sleep for a long time;
- some herbs have the opposite effect: they increase excitability and disrupt sleep.
If a negative reaction is noticed, you should stop taking it and consult a specialist.
Postpartum depression
Many young mothers remember with a smile the first months of their child’s life, others miss their tummy and the happy period of pregnancy - all people are different, and reactions, accordingly, may differ.
After childbirth, approximately 10-15% of women try to cope with depression, but only 3% are diagnosed with postpartum depression by a doctor, after which appropriate treatment is prescribed. In this case, only sedatives for nursing mothers will no longer help, and sometimes hospitalization is completely inevitable.
Preventing nervousness - how to cheer up your mother
It is better to prevent a problem than to deal with it later. Concentrating only on the baby and household chores leads to a decline in a woman’s mood. It is recommended to carry out a kind of discharge of negative emotions:
- establish a daily routine;
- good, full sleep is recognized as an excellent calming sleep, no matter how stressful the daily routine is, the mother should rest;
- find minutes for your favorite activities, enjoyment and relaxation from them;
- swimming in the pool, playing sports;
- turn on music, even while working, let pleasant melodies sound;
- walk with your child more often, have pleasant communication with him;
- take relaxing baths with oils of lavender, valerian, etc.
- take time to take care of yourself - good appearance brings maximum positive emotions;
- have a varied diet, since the nervous system often malfunctions due to a lack of certain microelements and vitamins;
- pampering yourself with pleasant delicacies allowed during breastfeeding, a little sweet improves your mood;
- Take help from loved ones in housework.
If signs of depression occur, it is first recommended to use non-drug methods to eliminate it. If you recognize the problem in time, it will be easier to fix it. If it is necessary to resort to the use of medications, they should be taken only after consultation with a specialist.
Symptoms and influence of external factors
- lack of strength,
- feeling of sadness and sadness,
- anxiety with panic attacks, headaches and increased heart rate,
- insomnia,
- loss of appetite,
- tearfulness,
- feeling of loneliness,
- depressed mood.
In this state, girls and women very often feel shame and consider themselves bad mothers, because they cannot fully feel the joy of the birth of a baby.
Proven method
Unfortunately, regular tea drinking is not always enough to find harmony and tranquility. Many girls and women, on the advice of doctors, prefer a proven remedy - valerian. It successfully copes with mild mental disorders, has a minimal number of side effects and does not affect the quality of breast milk.
- drops,
- calming pills.
For nursing mothers, taking drops is strictly prohibited. Of course, they work much faster, but the alcohol content is still cause for concern. Another option is to brew valerian root yourself.
On your own
Here are some simple ways that will help you improve your mood without medications and remember your loved one:
- We ask for help. Yes, you have become a mother, but this does not mean that caring for your child lies entirely on your fragile shoulders. Dad, grandparents, aunts, uncles and other relatives - involve everyone who is ready to help you. After all, a walk in the fresh air does not require special skills in handling a baby.
- We rest more. Washing, cleaning and cooking are, of course, important things. But when choosing between two hours of sleep and a vacuum cleaner, it’s better to go with the first one. If you have a serious lack of sleep, then go to bed with your baby.
- Let's remember ourselves before pregnancy. What did you like to do before you found out that you would soon become a mother? Hobbies, sports, meeting with friends or shopping - do not suffer from remorse and take time for yourself at least a couple of times a month.
- Going to the doctor. There is a lot of information in various sources about sedatives for nursing mothers, but we encourage you to contact professionals, especially when it comes to more serious antidepressant drugs. Do not hesitate to bother the doctor, because the baby has only one mother, and she should be healthy.
Strengthening negativity
- weak support from husband and family,
- difficult pregnancy,
- complications during childbirth,
- low socio-economic status,
- age over 40 years,
- alcoholism,
- lack of a permanent place of work or its complete cessation at the beginning of pregnancy,
- tendency to depression.
There is no doubt that postpartum depression harms not only you, but also your baby. You need to urgently consult a doctor and find out what sedatives nursing mothers can take.
In our country, unfortunately, this disease is rarely detected. A woman suffering from depression has no interest in interacting with her baby, which he so needs. Such children literally “absorb with milk” a tendency towards states of increased anxiety, suffer from low self-esteem and have difficulty expressing feelings.
"Glycine"
The well-known drug “Glycine” is another answer to the question of what sedatives can be used for breastfeeding women. This is a protein amino acid that is easily absorbed by our body.
- regulation of metabolism,
- relieving fatigue and psycho-emotional stress,
- reduction of excitability and nervousness,
- increased mental performance,
- normalization of sleep rhythms.
The drug has a cumulative effect (course of treatment is 2-4 weeks), so its use must be under the supervision of the attending physician. Sometimes “Glycine” is prescribed to newborns for restless sleep, so a small amount of the substance entering through milk will not cause harm.
