started on sertraline for pnd - hand holding needed

[emblosion]

Hi all, I have a 5 week old baby and have just been diagnosed with pnd and prescribed sertraline.

Feel a bit scared of taking them & possible side effects with such a young baby to look after, but I can't go on feeling as rotten as I have been. Had a v traumatic labour/delivery although we both came out of it ok and this all just feels so unfair. DS was desperately wanted, I was so delighted to be pregnant after trying for 2 years and now I feel like this. I feel a total failure and as though I am ruining it for everyone. DH deserves a happy wife that can cope, DS deserves a mum that isn't a weepy nervous wreck and I want e to be happy and enjoy my baby. :(

Just wanted to vent and some handholding really, has anyone experienced similar and come out the other side, will I start to feel normal again?

What time of day is it best to take tablets? Are the side effects going to be awful?

Would really appreciate any advice/support I just feel so lost & the intensity of how I feel and how quickly It's come on has really knocked me sideways.

[thunderpantsjenkins]

....by the way didn't have many side effects just a slightly tight jaw for the first few weeks and also anxiety was worse for a few weeks . Lost my ability to orgasm for about 4 months but this came back. Started taking them with breakfast at first but now take them in evening as they make me a bit sleepy.

[emblosion]

Wow, I just want to thank everyone again for the amazing support on this thread. It really means such a lot to me to know I'm not going through this alone.

Thunderpants - our experiences sound very similar, I'm an anxious personality type too, and looking back I can see my anxiety level in pregnancy prob wasn't normal, but it was managable iyswim. Labour was basically my worst nightmare scenario where one thing after another went wrong, but I was lucky in that the staff were very good.

Been on the sertraline for 2 weeks now and I am starting to feel a bit more normal, you know, not better but I feelore able to cope! Am expecting ups and downs but Long may it continue.

[mrsmandm]

Could I ask if any of you breast fed while taking strealine? Been prescribed it but been putting off starting it as don't want to stop feeding - too stressed and exhausted to make a decision to put dd on the bottle x

[SloeFarSloeGood]

I breastfed on sertraline without any ill effects.

[emblosion]

Hey mrsmandm, I'm not breastfeeding BUT I know others that have on sertraline & on citalopram and all babies (and mums) have been fine.

Quick update while I'm here, been in sertraline for 7 weeks & am a million times better than I was. My mood has levelled off in the last week or so, so I might increase my dose from 50mg - seeing psych Dr. on Mon so will see what she says.

Anyone that's wondering about whether to take ad's, I would say if you think you need them, do it. I've been feeling really back to normal again, bonding really well with my beautiful son & really so so much better & you will be too.

[thunderpantsjenkins]

That's lovely news Emblosion. So glad for you.

[mrsmandm]

Thanks for your help and great to hear you're on the up