Taking Fluoxetine whilst pregnant?

[Lickalolly]

Hi all,

I'm currently 4+2 weeks and the thought of adding any unnecessary complications to this pregnancy feels me with absolute fear.

To start off, I always feel really numb to everything (unless it's an unpleasant situation like a bit of anxiety, feeling genuinely sad and scared/worried). Music doesn't sound the same anymore. I never feel happy or excited. The only thing that gives me a bit of an emotional high is going shopping (even grocery shopping), and I know this is a symptom of Bipolar but I don't seem to fit the bill elsewhere because I don't have highs/lows (just lows), and I never spend much, I just get a real kick out of buying what I need/can actually pay for. Might be worth mentioning that my Mum is a long term sufferer of Bipolar and is amazingly supportive.

2 years ago I was prescribed Fluoxetine for the first time. Admittedly, it helped a lot but I stopped using it after 6 months because I really just forgot! I couldn't be bothered is perhaps a better term and I was rubbish at taking medication. Ever since I have still suffered with depression but since April 2014 I started vomiting blood and getting excruciating joint pain, to which no Doctor can give me any answers to and I'm still fighting for treatment/answers/ despite multiple tests. This pregnancy won't be easy on my body, to say the least.

Little over a month ago I miscarried at 10+ weeks and I've never felt so alone and lost in all my life. This little ray of rainbow that is my baby is my biggest joy, yet I just feel numb to the whole process (if that makes sense?), and I never seem to feel excited/happy and content anymore, just miserable and blase. This has been going on for a long time, way before I was even expecting in my first pregnancy, but I'm now worried and concerned that I shouldn't be feeling like this. This isn't just about me anymore.

I know there are complications that come with taking Fluoxetine, despite it being one of the safest anti-depressant to take during pregnancy. But, it can cause breathing difficulties for baby, baby may be born needing to be weened off the drug, and it can even cause an increased risk in miscarriage, which feels me with absolute dread!

This is my first baby and I wanted to breastfeed so so much (granted I took to it okay, as I know it doesn't end up being for everyone), yet I have read that this isn't advised because my drug transfers into my milk

Not only that, but being a young Mum, I feel as if people will being judging me silently anyway, and I wanted to show that I could at least TRY everything that's possibly best for my baby, yet now I cannot even show that I've given breastfeeding a try. When people see a not even week old baby with a bottle in their mouth and a young Mum, perhaps they'll categorize me with everyone else, since I obviously don't know 'breast is best'.

What can I do? I'm really in need of some advice and support

I'm going to see my GP tomorrow to discuss things further.

Your GP and your midwife (when you meet her) is the best port of call. Some areas have specialist mental health midwives they might be able to refer you to.

Fluoxetine can pass into milk but I think it's in very small amounts. I've certainly known women breastfeed on citalopram and sertraline, which are also SSRIs, so I don't see why fluoxetine would be any different. Obviously speak to your midwife about it but I think depending on your dose you will be able to breastfeed.

I haven't heard that ADs are more likely to cause miscarriage, where did you read that? They may well do, I don't know, but I'd be interested to know where you found that. FWIW, all anecdotal, but I have known a lot of women take antidepressants whilst pregnant and none of them have had any problems. (This is SSRIs though - I know other ADs aren't advised). I hope your GP is able to reassure you a bit. Obviously you don't have to take ADs either, I think it's a process of balancing the pros and cons and seeing what the likelihood of it getting worse is.

I was on fluoxetine when I got pregnant and I was told that it increased the risk of a heart defect. Your GP or obstetrician will obviously be better placed to advise you there.

Ask your midwife if there is a perinatal mental health team who can help you. This is the link to my local team with lots of info: www.babyblues.nhs.uk/planning-your-pregnancy/

Don't worry about your age and breastfeeding. As much as bf is advised, your mental health is more important in this case. It's nobody else's business how you feed your child.

Best of luck.

Breastfeeding network is a really good website to check safe drugs. This is the info on anti-depressants:

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/wp-content/dibm/anti-depressants-oct14.pdf