Tag Archives: sleep

Sleep Medications: What Information Do We Have on Reproductive Safety?

It is estimated that up to 95% of women experience some type of sleep disturbance during pregnancy.  While for many women the insomnia is relatively benign and may respond to simple interventions, other women experience more severe insomnia which has a significant impact on their quality of life and ability to function.  Various non-benzodiazepine hypnotic [...]

Postpartum Depression and Poor Sleep Quality Occur Together

In a new mother, sleep is disrupted by repeated awakenings of the infant, but hormonal factors also seem to play a role.  Immediately after childbirth, levels of the reproductive hormones, estrogen and progesterone, drop precipitously.  It is believed that, because these hormones modulate neurotransmitter systems in the brain responsible for sleep quality, this dramatic hormonal [...]

Zolpidem (Ambien) in Pregnancy: Is it Safe?

It is estimated that up to 95% of women experience some type of sleep disturbance during pregnancy.  While for many women the insomnia is relatively benign and may respond to simple interventions, other women experience more severe insomnia which has a significant impact on their quality of life and ability to function.  While zolpidem (Ambien), [...]

Insomnia Across the Female Life Cycle

In the July 2010 issue of Current Psychiatry, you will find a thorough review on the evaluation and treatment of insomnia in women across the life cycle.  The bottom line is that many women experience insomnia during times of hormonal transition.  The authors provide some useful guidelines for evaluating women who present with sleep problems [...]

Maternal Depression During Pregnancy May Lead to Infant Sleep Problems

About 15% of women suffer from depression during pregnancy, and many reports have suggested that depression during pregnancy may have negative effects on the fetus.   A new study from researchers at the University of Michigan indicates a link between depression during pregnancy and infant sleep problems. This study examined sleep patterns in 18 healthy, full-term [...]

Melatonin in Pregnancy: Is it Safe?

Many women experience some degree of sleep disturbance during pregnancy. For a significant number of women, the sleep disruption may be so severe as to require some type of intervention. In a previous post, we discussed the use of different types of medications to treat insomnia during pregnancy. While these drugs are highly effective, many [...]