Sertraline for PND/anxiety

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Some context: My gorgeous DD is 5 months and we're just coming out of a sleep regression that has had me on my knees- I have cried every day and started to have worrying dark thoughts (e.g "I can't take care of her", "I am a bad Mum"...and just once, when she had been screaming for about three hours in the middle of the night, "I just don't want to be here.") This feels very similar to her first week, when I had savage baby blues after a traumatic birth and she had tongue tie meaning I couldn't feed her. I've also had horrible intrusive anxious thoughts about something awful happening to her like a random act of violence, accident, illness etc.

On the urging of some friends and my DP, I contacted my GP to tell them this, and was v quickly referred to the local mental health team. A nurse visited me at home and diagnosed PND, and recommended sertraline.

I've never been on anti depressants before. I'm very grateful for how swift the service has acted but I feel a little like it's a kneejerk reaction, and wonder if I really do have PND or just am a sleep deprived mess? I'm worried about getting on something it will be hard to stop taking, and also about how it can make you feel worse at first. I wonder if I just need to figure out her sleep, and/or get a therapist to help with the anxiety?

Is anyone on the drug who can tell me what their experience has been, especially if given it for similar reasons?

Many thanks xx

I was prescribed Sertraline for my PND after I'd had 3 talking therapy sessions - support worker ended up suggesting it actually. I think DD was 4/5 months old when I started but don't actually remember! She's 10 months now.
I think it has definitely helped with the intrusive thoughts and the low mood. Still occasionally comes in waves but nowhere near to the same extent!

In these modern times the majority of mums don’t have much of a support network, I think that’s why PND is so prevalent.
Having said that, I love my Sertraline! Makes everything much easier to deal with.

yes me - started taking it due to extreme PPA and PND. I did not really have any side effects, perhaps a little groggy but that’s it. I definitely wasn’t worse psychologically on them. Started with a very low dose and they increased to 100 mg. It is not something that would solved all of my worries (but then I think the concerns I have are genuine rather than PND inflicted) and I can absolutely tell that sertraline has been a godsend for me. Makes you feel much calmer, I would say try it and don’t worry it’s a really widely used drug, it’s even allowed in pregnancy.

Thank you for replying @Leapintothelightning and @TwilightSkies

Do you mind saying if you found that your symptoms got worse before they got better?

And did you ever question the diagnosis of PND?

I suppose I'm feeling so much better already now that DD's sleep is improving and her naps are returning. I'm now wondering if I overreacted and if I really do have PND at all?? But then I was a crying mess just the other day when DP suggested DD would sleep better if she was more stimulated in the day. I felt he was criticising me (I play with her all day!) and I just broke down. So maybe I really am poorly (or maybe DP is just insensitive!)

Sorry, small insight into my whirring brain there. I wish I could know for certain what's going on with me. I just don't want to take a drug if I don't need to.

Thank you @Wobblyheart 💐

I didn’t question the diagnosis no, I believe I’d always had depression but it was manageable until after I had my second baby so I think it was the right call!