Sertraline and pregnancy

[jellycat235]

Hi,

I’m currently taking 50mg Sertraline daily and am 17 weeks pregnant. At my last midwife appointment the midwife said it was fine to take but it might affect baby when born and I would need to stay in hospital longer. I’m now worried and thinking I should stop taking it before birth.

Has anyone had experiences with taking Sertraline in pregnancy?

Thank you!

I have taken the same dose through both my pregnancies and no one has mentioned it affecting the baby after birth nor has it affected them.

100mg through first pregnancy and heard nothing about staying in hospital longer. DS is now 2 and no sign it had an effect. I'm pregnant with number 2.

My dr took the view that my mental health plummeting would be a higher risk than the v low risk from Sertraline

Thank you for your replies! That’s really reassuring to hear x

Has anyone been on antidepressants while pregnant & had to increase their dose during the pregnancy?

I started Sertraline 50mg around 10 weeks ago (this is my 3rd time on it). I also am around 8 weeks pregnant (have been trying for almost a year with no success & suddenly it happened once I’d started taking the Medication again 🤦‍♀️

I am having a lot of guilt about being on the medication whilst pregnant but also haven’t felt much improvement from taking it this time if anything 😓 The first 4-6 weeks came with awful side effects which I hadn’t really experienced when taking it previously.
Am now considering wither I will need to increase the dose to feel some benefit but can’t find any information on how increasing a medication during pregnancy may effect baby’s development as apposed to remaining on a steady dose.

I am so lost right now because I already have a 3yo DS who I am struggling to look after and I feel so down & hopeless every day it’s unbearable. I just want to feel balanced & be able to look forward to things again.

@RiseandShine89 I’ve had some complications in my pregnancy and it’s been quite a traumatic experience. As a result my anxiety has increased significantly. My consultant increased my dose from 50mg to 100mg 3 weeks ago. I was told by both my consultant and a fetal medicine professor that it wouldn’t impact the baby. Your MH is really important, so please speak to your GP x

Just to add my complications are completely unrelated to the Sertraline!

I would keeping taking it and then speak with your GP to discuss any worries.

@jellycat235 & @BritishDesiGirl thank you for your replies. Iv now been advised to up to 100mg & been reassured it’s perfectly safe.

@jellycat235 I'm so glad I found this thread. When I found out I was pregnant my GP told me my setraline could cause a fetal defect and to taper down. I've been on half the dose I was usually on and I've found life unbearable. I've got another call with my GP, but she was really scare-mongered into stopping my SSRI, so god knows how that will go🤕