Sertraline and breastfeeding

[blueyyyy]

Hello

My depression has just gotten progressively worse over the last 6 months, since DD2 was born.

Therapy hasn't helped.

Resorted to speaking GP about antidepressants. She prescribed sertraline, but explained about lack of evidence surrounding its use and breastfed babies.

NHS website claims it's safe.

My baby simply does not take a bottle. I've tried everything.

DH is a pharmacist and has been trying to put me off ad's for months. First it was it takes weeks to work, then it's everything will get better when I return to work and now he's claiming about toxicity in breastfed babies from sertraline use in mothers.

Idk what to do tbh.

There are published studies on more than 30 infants with no untoward effects noted. In almost all cases none of the drug has been detected in the infant plasma. Reported but anecdotal, evaluation of an infant exposed to 100milligrammes daily was that the child reached normal developmental milestones and weight at 3 months. There is one report of an infant developing benign neonatal sleep at 4 months, which resolved at 6 months, it is unclear whether this bears any relationship with the maternal use of sertraline. It is normally seen as the SSRI of choice for a breastfeeding mother

https://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/antidepressants/

i would be asking “D” H what it is he expects me to do with that information? And why he suggests that your mental health isn’t important enough to treat. Yes it can take some weeks to work, but that isn’t a reason not to try. PND impacts both you and your baby, and the attachment you can have with them… it’s not like you are wanting to be unwell, but you are… and he of all people should know that medication is an important part of helping PND. Perhaps you can also try some complementary stuff like yoga or therapy too… he can support you in minding the baby while you get some head space.

DH is a pharmacist and has been trying to put me off ad's for months

That's really concerning.

This is really concerning. I wonder why your 'D'H doesn't want you to access help.

I'v breastfed my babies whilst taking sertraline, no Dr, psychiatrist etc. has ever expressed any concern at all.

@SNWannabe I've honestly tried everything. I go to mum & baby exercise classes, go outside everyday, I do everything my therapist suggests but it's not remotely helping. The medication in combo with these things will hopefully help.

@hjfl that's really reassuring to read.

I'm just going to ignore him and take the drugs.

He is very supportive in other aspects. He's tried helping where he can including having a cleaner, sending DD1 to nursery, using his AL to look after the kids so I can get a break. He just doesn't want me to take ad's. But I don't understand how he isn't miserable just from me being miserable and my acting out when it gets too much.

What a prick your husband is. Take the pills.

I've been on sertraline before and after a few days on a very small dose I felt much calmer and the constant tumbling of anxiety in my mind slowed. I hope it works for you

I know it's anecdotal but I breastfeed my DD till she was 3 with no adverse effects, while taking sertraline. No-one raised it as an issue with me, before, during or after pregnancy.

He just doesn't want me to take ad's. But I don't understand how he isn't miserable just from me being miserable and my acting out when it gets too much.

Well, it's just another method of control for him.

Your DH is an arsehole. I took the max dose of sertraline throughout pregnancy and while BF (although I switched to FF quite early on for other reasons). It is the AD that is usually prescribed because all the evidence is that it's totally safe - I asked all sorts of people (GP, psychiatrist, midwife, obstetrician) and they all agreed.

Hi there,
I hope things better for you. I don't live in the UK and the advice here is that it is safe when breastfeeding. Try it and see if it helps.

Also, remember that brain health starts with a good diet. All the neurotransmitters that we need have to come from food or be made in our bodies, out of the foods that we eat. Start taking a good high dose multivitamin with minerals, our diets can be shockingly lacking and in pregnancy the baby leaches all the vitimins and minerals she needs from you.
And healthy fats, oily fish, omega 3, all necessary for a healthy brain!

I am not a chemist or doctor, so I don't know the ins and outs, but i heard a podcast featuring a guy called Chris Palmer talking about how diet impacts mental health and found it really insightful and seemed to make a whole lot of sense.

Hey,
sorry you are feeling like this. I started taking sertraline yesterday for anxiety. and am currently EBF my 4 month old.

my GP said it was the safest option to take whilst breastfeeding.
hugs xx

Thanks to those for sharing that you're on sertraline and bfing.

@Cheesedoffandgrumpy what you're saying rings very true. I feel a lot better when I've eaten nutritiously rather than snacking that I end up doing with 2 kids. I do need to make a conscious effort of eating properly and remembering to take my postnatal vitamins. Thank you for the reminder

@blueyyyy I know it’s an old thread but I was wondering how you’re getting on now? Did you start taking sertraline and did it make a difference? If so how long did it take for you to feel better?

I’m in the same boat now, ebf and my baby is refusing the bottle, I’m suffering from post natal depression and my gp prescribed sertraline but I’ve not started taking it yet. I keep thinking “ I’m functioning” so I can’t be depressed. On the outside everything looks perfect but I’m angry all the time, exhausted don’t find joy in anything, I don’t want to do anything but I still do everything so no one thinks I’m depressed. Except my gp and midwife..
I also feel weird about taking them while bf although I know there’s been lots of research saying it’s fine taking them while bf.

I hope everything worked out for you and that you feel better now!

Not the OP but I took sertraline after my first baby and I was BF. It changed my life significantly and I'm so grateful I took it. Please look after yourself because looking after you is the best way you can look after your baby.

@ohpumpkinseeds yeah I don’t want to feel like this anymore so I’ll start taking the medication now as well as having cbt.
How fast did you notice a difference and did you get any side effects?

I was switched to serrraline when I was ttc number 3 as 16+ years ago it was considered safe for pregnancy and breastfeeding. I took it all the way through my pregnancy and breastfed and ds3 is the most normal out of all 3 of them. This is just anecdotal evidence obviously but my experience shows it’s absolutely fine.

I took mirtazapine, sertraline and citalopram whilst breastfeeding whilst under the perinatal team who are best placed to advise on medication whilst pregnant or breastfeeding. I also took quetiapine which is an antipsychotic.

I only had to stop breastfeeding to go on to lithium. My depression and pyschosis unfortunately was quite stubborn and took quite a lot of medication. I'm bipolar and struggled with depression all my adult life.

CFT is the recommended therapy of post natal depression there's a book by Michelle Cree that my CFT group therapy course followed

@ohpumpkinseeds I've been absent on this for a while!

But I was too inconsistent with it so I just stopped taking it tbh. I used to forget and it was evening when I'd remember but if I took it then it would keep me up all night.

My mental health has gotten better since the kids have gotten older so I'm able to leave them to do my own thing. I'm back at work, I can go to the gym and I'm eating a lot cleaner. Still bfing but having that 'me time' away from the kids has been life changing for my sanity.

I'm so much more patient with them when they're worked up and having a tantrum.

I would say stick to the meds though if you can. I was suicidal at one point and resorted to self harm to heal the emotional pain.

It didn't help that my husband wasn't supportive with the meds. If I had someone to remind me to take them in the morning everyday then I might have been more consistent with it.