Pregnancy, Birth and Baby home

Insomnia in pregnancy and breastfeeding

Warning:

If you are extremely distressed or having suicidal thoughts call Lifeline (Opens in new tab) on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service (Opens in new tab) 1300 659 467 for immediate support.

Key facts

  • Insomnia is a common sleep disorder where you have trouble falling or staying asleep.
  • Pregnancy causes hormonal and physical changes to your body, increasing your risk of developing insomnia.
  • Insomnia can affect your daytime functioning, energy levels, memory, mood and mental health.
  • Behavioural, psychological and alternative treatments should be tried first for insomnia in pregnancy and breastfeeding.
  • Some insomnia medicines are not safe for your baby.

    • What is insomnia?

    Insomnia is a sleep disorder (Opens in new tab) where you may find it hard to fall or stay asleep. This can make it difficult to function during the day.

    Sleep issues affect around 1 in every 2 pregnancies. They may get worse as your pregnancy progresses. Sleep issues are also common after birth, especially if you are breastfeeding.

    Insomnia can become ongoing. It is called chronic insomnia when you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep at least 3 nights per week for at least 3 months, along with not functioning well during the day.

    Acute (short-term) insomnia may happen during short periods of stress, such as when you're feeling emotional pressure, dealing with money worries or recovering from childbirth. It usually gets better once the stressful situation passes.

    What are the symptoms of insomnia?

    Key symptoms of insomnia include:

    • difficulty falling asleep
    • waking up a lot during the night
    • waking up too early and not being able to go back to sleep
    • not feeling refreshed when you wake up

    Insomnia can cause other symptoms during the day, including:

    People experience insomnia differently. You might only have some of these symptoms.

    CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.

    What causes insomnia during pregnancy and breastfeeding?

    You may experience insomnia during pregnancy because of the many physical, emotional and hormonal changes your body is going through. You may also have insomnia because of general, non-pregnancy causes.

    Pregnancy-related causes of insomnia:

    General causes of insomnia:

    How is insomnia treated during pregnancy?

    Your doctor or midwife can help you manage insomnia. They will likely recommend a non-medicine treatment first. This includes behavioural and psychological interventions. There are some treatments for insomnia that are not appropriate if you're pregnant or breastfeeding.

    FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

    Treating an underlying condition causing insomnia

    Before you treat the symptoms of insomnia, you should tell your doctor if you have any underlying conditions that may cause insomnia such as:

    Sleep hygiene

    Your health professional may recommend you improve your sleep hygiene. Try these habits to help you sleep better:

    • Do not spend too long in bed without sleeping. Staying in bed for longer without sleeping can worsen insomnia.
    • Cut out nicotine, reduce or cut out alcohol and limit caffeine to mornings.
    • Exercise regularly, but not vigorously (with lots of effort) in the evening.
    • Do something relaxing before bed. If you don't feel sleepy, or if you wake up in the night, go to another room and do a relaxing activity (such as reading) until you feel sleepy, and then try again.
    • Try to deal with anything that is worrying you earlier in the day rather than at bedtime.
    • Make sure your bedroom is comfortable. It should be quiet and dark, not too hot or too cold.
    • Consider removing clocks from your bedroom so you don't keep checking the time. Avoid screens in your bedroom and try not to use technology for one hour before going to bed.

    General sleep hygiene habits include going to bed and wake up around the same time every day, and avoiding long naps, especially later in the day. These habits can be hard to keep after having a baby or when you are breastfeeding at night. Talk to your midwife, child and family health nurse or lactation consultant about how to adjust sleep hygiene goals when you're pregnant or breastfeeding.

    Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)

    Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) (Opens in new tab) is a treatment of choice for insomnia during pregnancy and can help reduce your symptoms. It is a well-researched treatment with low risks to you and your baby. CBT is based on the idea that how you think and act affects how you feel.

    Medicines

    Your doctor will discuss which medicines you can safely take during pregnancy. Many sleep medicines are not considered safe for you and your baby, so be sure your doctor knows you're pregnant or breastfeeding.

    Sedating antihistamines such as doxylamine (Opens in new tab) can be used in all stages of pregnancy. They are not connected with any increased risk to your baby and are not addictive. There is little evidence that they help to treat insomnia.

    Melatonin (Opens in new tab) is sometimes used to treat insomnia. It is not recommended if you are pregnant. There is little research about how safe it is to use during pregnancy. Your doctor may prefer a medicine with more safety evidence.

    Benzodiazepines, including temazepam (Opens in new tab), are often prescribed to treat insomnia in non-pregnant people. They are generally not recommended during pregnancy. Your baby may have withdrawal symptoms after birth, especially if you take them in your third pregnancy trimester. If necessary, your doctor may prescribe these at the lowest effective dose for a short time.

    Suvorexant (Opens in new tab) is prescribed for people with chronic insomnia. It is not recommended during pregnancy.

    Speak with your doctor before taking any medicines (Opens in new tab) during your pregnancy.

    LOOKING FOR A MEDICINE? — To search by brand or active ingredient, use the Medicines information search feature.

    How is insomnia treated while breastfeeding?

    Your doctor will first treat insomnia by addressing your sleep hygiene, as well as any underlying causes of poor sleep.

    Some medicines can pass into your breast milk and make your baby sleepy. They can also affect your milk supply. Do not take any medicines or herbal infusions without first checking with your doctor. If your doctor does prescribe you a sleeping medicine that's safe for you and your baby, they may prescribe the lowest dose for the shortest amount of time possible.

    Benzodiazepines belong to a class of medicines that are not recommended during breastfeeding. One medicine in this class, temazepam (Opens in new tab), is short acting (works for a short amount of time). It is unlikely to be a problem, especially if your baby is older. Your doctor may prescribe this for a one-off occasion. Temazepam is preferred to the over-the-counter antihistamine doxylamine (Opens in new tab). This is because doxylamine can affect your milk production if taken in large doses.

    There is not much research studying the effect of taking melatonin (Opens in new tab) on your breast milk. It may pass into your breast milk, but is unlikely to be of concern if you are breastfeeding an older baby.

    Suvorexant (Opens in new tab) is prescribed for people with chronic insomnia. It is not recommended while breastfeeding.

    Always check with your doctor or pharmacist before you take any new medicine (Opens in new tab) or supplement while you are breastfeeding.

    Are there any alternative ways to treat insomnia?

    Acupuncture is a popular alternative therapy for insomnia and is recommended during pregnancy. Research shows that it can improve your sleep quality.

    Other alternative treatments include:

    • yoga
    • tai chi
    • aromatherapy or massage
    • music

    Herbal medicines and infusions are other common alternative treatments for insomnia. These treatments are not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding. There is not enough research looking into their safety. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking an alternative or herbal medicine.

    Can insomnia affect my or my baby’s health?

    Insomnia during pregnancy can affect your and your baby's health. It can cause anxiety and stress during pregnancy. Insomnia can affect your quality of life. It is also associated with:

    If you have problems with insomnia, seek medical advice and treatment.

    Warning:

    If you are extremely distressed or having suicidal thoughts call Lifeline (Opens in new tab) on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service (Opens in new tab) 1300 659 467 for immediate support.

    How can I improve my sleep during pregnancy?

    You can improve your sleep during pregnancy by following these tips:

    • Indigestion and heartburn — raise the head of your bed or sleep with more pillows. Do not take too many antacids.
    • Physical discomfort — sleep on your side and try a pregnancy pillow.
    • Frequent urination — avoid drinking too much liquid in the evening and go to the toilet before bed.
    • Restless leg movements — reduce the amount of tea, coffee and other sources of caffeine. Stop smoking and try gentle exercise.

    See your doctor or midwife if you still have trouble sleeping after trying these tips.

    Resources and support

    Languages other than English

    Read about sleep hygiene and healthy sleep habits in Chinese (Opens in new tab), Arabic (Opens in new tab) and Vietnamese (Opens in new tab) through the Health Resource Directory.

    Speak to a maternal child health nurse

    Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 (Opens in new tab) or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.

    Last reviewed: October 2025

    Need more information?

    These trusted information partners have more on this topic.

    Search our site for