breastfeeding and antidepressants

[mollysmum82]

I went to the doctors today and was diagnosed with depression. The doctor strongly advised me to take an antidepressant but he said he would not prescribe me one if I was still breastfeeding. My daughter is now 10 months old and I told the doctor I really wanted to feed her for 2 years as per the WHO guidelines. He said these were rubbish but that it was my decision to make - he said I had to make a choice - breastfeed, or receive treatment.

There's no way I'm giving up breastfeeding now. But I'm feeling so low at the moment and really need something to change. I wondered if anyone else had been through this and what they had done?

Many thanks

Your GP is talking balls and I really hope you report him.
Kellymom.com has information on medication compatible with bfing and there are very few that are off limits. I had very bad anxiety after having my son and was put on trazodone which is a pretty hardcore old-style anti depressant, and my GP had no issue with me still bfing.

I second Sandy Bits - your doctor is a complete and utter numpty and in fact bloody dangerous and you should definitely get a second opinion. I have seen a psychiatrist who specialises in post natal depression and she has given me 40mg of seroxat. This barely comes through the breast milk. If it makes you feel better, i was on 70mg (!!!!) of citalopram and happily breastfeeding. They just reduced it slowly and then put me on to seroxat (as citalopram is known to go through the breast milk). There are MANY MANY antidepressants you can take whilst bfeeding. God, this makes me mad, as it is so unfair on you. Go and see someone else before you feel even lower. Rant over

mollysmum82 oh god, you poor thing, as if it's not enough having to deal with depression and a young baby. AND you plucked up the courage to go and get something done about it.

Your GP is an arrogant pompous arse. And wrong. Is there another one you can see in the same practise? I was on sertraline for nearly 20 months while BF my daughter, I seem to remember having to do my own research about which had the lowest transfer rates to breastmilk etc. Check out Dr. Tom Hale's website, I'm really sorry I don't have the link....

Thank you so much for your lovely support and advice. You've made me feel a lot better xx

I'm so sorry its taken me such a long time to reply - my little girl has been back in hospital on oxygen and nebulisers again I feel so guilty thinking about me and my depression when she's ill. I didn't want you to think I was being ungrateful.

I think I will try and see someone else in the practice, I just need to pluck up the courage again (I was so nervous last time)

Definitely get a second opinion. Take someone with you if you're nervous.

I think it would also be good if you sent a letter of complaint to the practice manager, CCing it to the PCT Patient Liasion Service and maybe the head of midwifery. That doctor should not be allowed to refuse treatment to you on non-medical grounds (and he's talking bollocks, so it's on his opinion, not the medical evidence). He also shouldn't be trying to force you to give bfing! Grrr.