Pregnancy Sleep Aids

You’d sacrifice anything for a good night’s rest…except the safety of your baby. According to the FDA, there are currently no sleep aid medications that are 100 percent risk-free for an unborn child. But there are several meds that—based on animal studies—are presumed safe for unborn babies. Called Class B drugs, these include Benadryl and Ambien. Most doctors say that the occasional use of a Class B sleep aid poses little risk to your infant. Other sleep-aids, like Lunesta and Sonata, are Class C drugs, which mean animal studies have shown potential risks to a fetus. If you’re not willing to take any chances, though, ginseng supplements have been shown to help ease stress and regulate sleep, …and the herb is safe for use during pregnancy. Also, certain foods, like milk, honey and turkey, may increase your body’s supply of sleep-inducing tryptophan. When you’re pregnant, however, remember that just because something is “natural” does not always mean it is healthy for your baby. You should avoid potentially dangerous sleep aids like melatonin, kava kava, and valerian. Keep your baby safe. Talk to your doctor before you start any kind of new medication, natural or no.