Need Info. on Anti-depressants and Pregnancy

Hello
I was on antdepressants before I had my kids. The doctor told me it was ok to keep taking them but I stopped. It was weird because while I was pregnant I didnt get moody. I think I might have bad PMS and since I didnt have a period then I wasnt depressed. You should try to go off of them and see what happens. You can always start taking them again.

Hi B.,
It's hard to find solid research on newer drugs. Drug companies certainly don't test drugs on moms/babies. The most common reference book is the Physicians Desk Reference aka the PDR. The problem is that this is a complilation of the package inserts the drug companies use as disclaimers so many drugs are listed as Category C-- which essentially means "we don't know." There are 2 other resouces I rely on---
"Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation" by Briggs GG, Freeman RK, Yaffee SJ et al.
"Medications and Mothers' Milk" by Thomas W.Hale, PhD --try
www.ibreastfeeding.com
www.brestfeeding.com
www.breastfeedingonline.com
B. (RN and IBCLC)

There have been many many studies on the effect of anti-depressants on a growing fetus/nursing infant. You can read up on this topic at WebMD.com, then just search for the name of your particular anti-depressant. I have been on Zoloft for a little over a year. I read up on it and found that doctors feel it is safe to take while pregnant or nursing.
Hope this helps.
~ S. B

Hi B.. I was in the same boat as you when I found out I was pregnant in January this year. We weren't planning on a baby but I guess he really wanted to make an appearance. I'd been taking a small dose of Effexor for almost two years and while it too made me horribly nervous to be taking this drug while I was pregnant, my ob and my regular doc assured me it was just fine. After some crying and LOTS of research, there is no documented medical evidence that the anti-depressant class of drugs are out and out harmful to a baby in utero or a breastfeeding newborn. Besides, if you are anything like me, it was better for me to be on the drug and in much more control of my feelings and emotions than to try and risk the hormone induced roller coaster of pregnancy without them. I'm a high risk mom because I had two miscarriages before and I've been to the perinatologist nearly every two weeks since I was six months pregnant and I'm about to give birth to what they all tell me is a beautiful and perfect little boy. You should follow your doctor's advice and remember that no two people or pregnancies are alike and you have to do what is best for you!!

I took paxil all through my preg. and have a totally healthy little boy. Had no issues when he was teeny-tiny! He's two now, and I wish that was the case. Simply, ask your doctor to go through any risks with you, if he/she has no concerns, neither should you.

I have been on anti-depressants for years now. I feel the same as you and don't want to take medicine every day if I don't have to, but I have to. It has taken me a long time to accept that, but I know now that I am a happier and more stable person on the right medication.

My son is 9 months old and still breast feeding. I was on anti-depressants throughout my entire pregnancy. My son is very happy and healthy and has not had any problems from the medication. I talked to my OB about it when I got pregnant because I was concerned about the side effects, but we looked up the side effects and decided together that the benefits of being on the medication far outweighed the risks. I think that I made the right decision for me. I think that doing research is an excellent start. You know you better than anyone else and you know what is right for you. Trust yourself to make the right decision, but do the research so that you know why you trust yourself (does that make sense?). :)

I did have to switch medications after I had my son and started breastfeeding. While the medication that I was on (Wellbutrin) was fine during pregnancy, there was a very low risk of seizure in breastfed babies. I decided to change to Zoloft for a year while I breastfeed and then go back to Wellbutrin when I am done nursing. Zoloft is more expensive because it is not covered by my insurance, but I would rather pay more to know that my son is safe. I figure I can do that for a year.

I hope that this helps you a little bit. I know it is hard and it is a big decision. I have also dealt with friends and especially family that don't understand. I am VERY close to my cousin who thinks that depression is a state of mind! She tells me to go have a cup of tea and think possitive thoughts. She thought it was crazy that I was on medication while I was pregnant.

One more thing that I will add before I go, is that I had a lot of concerns about post partum depression because I was already vulnerable to depression. I had NO problem whatsoever and I think that a lot of it had to do with the fact that I was already on medication. I am very greatful to have had the option to take medication rather than have to suffer through it.

I wish you the best of luck. If you ever have any questions about this, or just need to talk to someone who understands feel free to email me at ____@____.com.

take it! im bipolar and it literally saved my life and my child's. i was very worried about side effects and only resumed taking my antidepressant after my second trimester started. i continued taking the med throughout the 10 months i breastfed. amazingly your body will take good care of you but postpartum depression is not easy to pull out of. i have now resumed my full med regimen but still have much difficulty regulating myself 8 months after my girl has been weened. good luck!

I personally recommend that you begin taking Fish oils (EPA) as this is a great help with postpartum depression. Your body needs a certain amount of good oils everyday. Olive oil is great too, as is Evening Primrose Oil, but don't take lots of the EPO, if you are prone to miscarriages. Hope that helps!

Well I had PPD with my first child and was put on SRI's. At the time it still was not the proper class of drugs for use during preggers. So I was taken off it when I got preggers again. Made things a little annoying i'll admit. After I had my daughter, second child, they put me right back on SRI's and told me I couldn't breastfeed with her. This was back in 2004...mind you. So It hasn't been that long since it wasn't recommended. Makes me nervous when something has only been done for a short period. I don't want to be a guinea pig. Just my humble opinion.

Hey B.,

I too went through a time in my life when I was really depressed and took anti-depressants. It also happened to be around the time that I got pregnant with my second child.
My doctor gave me the same info. I was told that my being depressed was more harmful to my fetus than the medication I was taking. I continued to take it throughout the pregnancy and while I was breastfeeding. I didn't have any problems. In fact, it helped me get through the postpartum blues that really caused me problems with my first pregnancy.
Hang in there!
H.

I am starting my fourth month in pregnancy and I am bipolar. I quit cold turkey on my meds because I was not willing to take any risk of birth defects or problems with the babies eating and sleeping. That does not mean it will happen but it is possible. My Dr told me that I could take some during the second trimester prob not all that I was on but some. I decided to just stick it out. I dont see why I should get use to meds again just to go off at the end of the pregnancy so the baby doesnt have the withdrawls and problems after birth and while I am breast feeding. If I get bad enough I would take something but I keep myself very very very busy in other ways to help keep my mind not"busy" with the usual bothers that cause me to be moody. I would just trust what you feel and if you trust your dr they usually will not steer you wrong. I was on paxil, trileptal and klonopin...I know the klonopin was a big no no and the other two are class c I believe which means there is a chance of problems. I have also have a friend that has to take meds and took them through her pregnancy and her and the baby did have a rough time..so its really so hard to say. It also depends on your severity of depression...anxiety or what ever your problem may be. She was worse of then me so she needed some. I am just so paranoid I rather just deal while I am prego. Hugs

Hi B.,

I belong to a message board where several of the mothers have taken anti-depressants during pregnancy. I believe most are safe. I would check with both your Pyschiatrist as well as your OB. Most OB's encourage thier patients to continue their medications during pregnancy (provided they are safe) because the mother's overall health and well-being, both physically and emotionally, is crucial to a healthy pregnancy.

Good luck!

B.~

I have been fighting depression for 10 years. I absolutely had to stay on all three of my anti-depressants during my pregnancy. I did develop mild preeclampsia during my pregnancy, but my doctor doesn't think they were connected. Most anti-depressants are considered safe during pregnancy. Hope this helps!

What RX are you on? I take prozac and was told it is perfectly safe to take while pregnant. That was my big concern when pregnant, was taking it.

Hope that helps!

B.

It depends on the anti-depressant. I used Prozac during my 2nd and 3rd pregnancies and while I nursed. My kids are great. They are bright, healthy, and fun kids. Make sure you are getting pre-natal care, that your OB-Gyn knows what you are taking so s/he can monitor you, and continue to eat healthy and exercise (it's finally cooling off at night, so maybe a walk around the block with DH.) Good luck!
Congratulations and if you should ever need to talk off-line, I'm here for ya babe!
Jen

Hi,

After reading some of the responses, I think the general concensus is to stay on the medication, if the newness of Lexapro scares you, you might consider taking a different kind of anti-depressant. One of the risk-factors for PPD is previous depression and depression during pregnancy. As a young woman who suffered through SEVERE PPD, I would urge you to stay on the medications. I personally thought I was immune to PPD and didn't take steps to prevent or lessen the chance of me going through it...boy was I wrong. It is a fact that no woman can consider her self immume to PPD. Next time, I will I start on meds right away when I get pregnant...and my son is thriving, so I see no effects of the medication on him.

I have found that the shame associated with depression or being on medications is nothing compared to the precious bonding time with my son that I was robbed of by PPD.

Good Luck!

I don't know anything about anti-depressants never had to take them and I have 2 kids and with my first I had a bad bladder infection I could have died.

Hi, B.
I am 8 months pregnant and take effexxor for depression. My doctor also said it was fine to take. He did recommend Welbutrin or Zoloft since they are the safest during pregnancy. I have not breastfead with this med though I tried to stop taking them during pregnancy and it went very badley. So if they help you make it though I would suggest staying on them. I heard the risk is very low and I would not worry. Hope this helps!
A.

I took prozac through two pregnancies. It's the longest studied anti-depressant on the market and has shown no link (as far as I know) to "harming" a child. Have you scheduled a pre-conception appointment with your midwife/MD? Because of your meds, you might want to do this prior to stopping birth control. Best of luck!