PND and having another baby??

[Widgetdog35]

Hi,
I've been suffering from PND well we think from before my daughter was born looking back but went untreated till she was 8 months.
She is now just 4yrs and started school today. I feel so good now but if i stop my meds i go down again fast, even after just one missed tablet i can feel it and i never want to go back there.
The thing is i would really like to have another baby, just wondering if anyone else had been through this and what they did my doctors have become pants the lack of understanding the main issue, i can never get those missed years back and i'd say it was a good 2.5 to 3yrs of her life, our bond now is getting so strong i love her more and more and i think i'm now feeling the normal thing we all do, no more running for the hills and her crys upset me when before i could not get away fast enough. anyway back on track with my question, does anyone know if i can still take my tablets while pregnant?, brest feeding? and if not how do people cope??
Any advice or thoughts would be fab, thanks :)

[GetDownYouWillFall]

which AD do you take widget? I am in a similar position to you, had severe PND first time round but now would like to have another baby and trying to get off my medication.

You may be able to get a referral to the peri-natal specialist (psychiatrist specialising in mental health in pregnancy and after birth) but you will need to push your GP for it.

I beleive there are some ADs you can carry on taking during pregnancy but the risks / benefits would need to be weighed up.

[EleFunTess]

Hi Widgetdog35.

My situation wasn't quite the same, as I was off the meds and coping OK by the time we decided to ttc a second child. I'm sure your GP would be able to talk this over with you, though. Why don't you make an appointment to discuss?

In terms of the PND coming back - it won't necessarily happen again, but you will need some support and to keep a close eye out for the symptoms returning if you do decide to go ahead with extending your family.

When I was expecting my second child my midwife referred me to a mental health worker, who I had an initial meeting with at about 14 weeks into the pregnancy, and then could ring up or self-refer for an appointment if I felt I needed to. The MWs and HV were also really hot on making sure I was feeling OK after the birth.

My PND first time round was crushing. It didn't kick in until about 4 months post-birth, but lasted a long time. I didn't get back on my feet properly for a couple of years. I did suffer some depression during my second pregnancy, mainly brought on (I think) by the fact I was very physically unwell (had hyperemesis and obstetric cholestassis and was pretty much housebound for most of it), but amazingly, I felt better than I had done in years after the birth and have had no problems with my mental health since ('baby' is nearly 2 yrs old now).

Good luck. And do talk it over with the health professionals.