In thinking there must be a fair few expectant mothers on antidepressants?

[deliakate]

And yet I can barely find any discussions on the subject with users posting personal experiences - not just on mn, but on the whole net.

Am currently trying to cope with a mild depressive episode whilst ttc, and I am trying to avoid taking medication, but maybe its not as bad as I am thinking it is???

It must be fairly common I would think, given how the large numbers of the population who take antidepressants. Or does everybody manage to stop taking their dose before conceiving?

[thingamajig]

I will add my experiences to the mix; I was on Citlopram throughout pregnancy and breast feeding of my dd, who is a very happy healthy 2.5 year old, who was born at home.
I am now pregnant with twins, and am on citalopram plus lithium, which is generally known as a no-no for pg, but my problems are only helped by it. I have a supportive psychiatrist and midwife, and so far so good.

Given the percentage of women of childbearing age on anti depressants there must be hundreds of people pg while on ads; the reason so little is known is that no research can be done on pregnant women (a foetus can't give informed consent), so all info is from retrospective studies. This means drugs cannot be licensed for use in pg women.

I would say personally that if you have a good GP, great, but most know next to nothing about the issues, and will often only go as far as looking in the BNF, seeing that a drug is not licensed for use in pregnancy, and tell you to come off it. The best thing to do is insist on seeing a psychiatrist or consulting the local hospital pharmacist if this happens to you, as they know more.

Generally speaking the SSRIs are fine for use in pregnancy. I started a thread in MH about people experiences of ads in pregnancy; will see if I can find it for you.

[thingamajig]

Lynyll, there is some evidence of withdrawal from certain drugs, but I don't think they would give you a grumpy baby, or not for very long anyway. I breastfed, which had the effect of continuing to give dd a reduced dose until she weaned off it in the normal way. I don't know if this is a option for her, but worth thinking about.

[3Trees]

DO speak to your GP or usual Mental health care provider. There are some anti depressants which are less potentially harmful in pg, and which can be used when the risk to the mother of not taking them outweighs the risk to the child of taking them. The risks are small, and your care would be managed.

I am bipolar. I did not take medication throughout my pregnancy, I had a very carefully managed withdrawal from my meds prior to deciding to TTC, (LUCKILY for me, I am still med free 5 years later, becasue I learnt a LOT of other coping strategies, you can use diet to control mood to a degree, and also some other lifestyle changes can be very helpful) But I was always aware that for me, due to my diagnosed brain chemical issue (that's what these things are, actual problems with the levels of certain chemicals in the brain), I might NEED medication which might in other circumstances be contra indicated.

Knowing that you need the medication and having the wherewithall to ask, and to agree and comply with the monitoring and any suggested lifestyle changes, is just taking the absolute best care of you and your child.

it's also a very good lesson in the fact that nothing when it comes to being a parent is black and white, it's all about weighing the risks.

[SirBoobAlot]

Lynil, when I stopped my ADs (breastfeeding) I noticed no change in DS.

[thingamajig]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/49/898363

[Lovinmybois]

My doc told me it was fine to take escitalopram when i was pg. Stupidly though i never considered i couldn't bf, i was told not to 4 weeks before ds was born.

[NeedToSleepZZZ]

I really didn't think I could bf whilst on prozac so thank you so much for your advice.
Agree that AND is not discussed and it should be, it's such a stressful, life changing time that of course it's going to have an effect. Women today are also told, via the media,they must look and feel a certain way whilst pg and that's just not realistic for most of us and just piles on the pressure.

[4madboys]

i am taking citalopram 10mg and i am 28 wks preg, i was on 20mg but cut down to 10mg, my choice as i was feeling well etc and i have continued to be fine :)

i saw a gp early on in my pregnancy who was NOT happy that i was on citalopram but i had checked wiht the mental health team that it would be ok BEFORE getting preg and they have continued to offer me their support throughout pregnancy and afterwards, i can just call my cpn and ask to see him :) luckily am fine but i had post natal psychosis after my last baby so they have said they will keep in touch to make sure i am ok, i had their full backing to get pregnant again tho :)

try and speak to a mh professional and not just a gp tho, is my advice :)

[xstitch]

deliakate there are lots of pregnant women on antidepressants. Its a matter of risk to benefit thing and some ads are better than others. Start with a chat with your dr, there may be alternatives for you such as counselling but your GP is the best place to start.

Hammy I'm sorry your mum didn't instil confidence in you but don't you dare imply that EVERY mother on ads has a bad effect on your child. Did it occur to you that many mums are content and coping because of ADs. I have been and am still going through hell in my life due to circumstances outwith my control. I happen to think I am coping very well considering. Admittedly I am currently getting a little help from Ads but I am functioning, my dd is fed, clothed, has shelter and she gets a lot of encouragement and praise when it is due.

[Cosmosis]

I was on anti-depressants while TTC (citalopram), I was just weaning myself off them when I got pg. The docs and midwife were fine with it, I also got referred to a specially trained MH midwife should I feel the need to see her as well.

!

[prozacfairy]

I was on ADs when I unexpectedly got pregnant and came off them for first few months at the doctor's advice- to give the feotus' organs a chance to develop normally.

I was meant to go back on them in time for the birth to help prevent me developing PND (I have a long history of depression) but refused because I mistakenly thought that if I took them I wouldn't be as good a mother as if I wasn't taking any meds. Didn't matter how much the doctor insisted it was very common for expectant mothers to be on AD's I still refused. Also the ones I was on were known to filter through to breastmilk and I wanted to breastfeed.

Surprise surprise, I was diagnosed with PND within 3 weeks of DD's birth. Couldn't breastfeed anyway in the end- far to tense and anxious and baby could not/would not not latch on. If I ever have another baby which I doubt I'll listen to my GP and give anti depressants serious consideration.

[colditz]

I took prozac whilst pregnant with ds2, and all was fine. It was prescribed for me whilst pregnant because of depression, and I must admit, I had tried to cope without it (and didn't), and once I gave in and just did what the doctor said, I was much, much happier.