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Starting Setraline PND Diagnosis

4 replies

BluePonyClub · 14/07/2025 18:42

Hello. I've been diagnosed with the above today. I had my second baby 12 weeks ago however, I suffered with this after my first birth I just never admitted it and lied to any nurse or doctor who assessed me. After my first I think I started feeling better around 1.5 years after but not 100% but thought it a good idea to try again. I thought this time I'll be better because I know what I'm doing. Wrong. I've been much worse than before and the whole family is suffering. Anyway I was referred to perinatal mental health who have been brilliant and today I spoke with a doctor who officially diagnosed me and prescribed sertraline 50mg which I'm nervous about taking.

I've been bad like my relationship is rocky, my toddler gets my angry outbursts the poor thing and I had to ask myself if I bonded with my baby.. I think that speaks for itself. I love them both but on bad days I wish I could just run out the door and leave them even for an hour! On bad days I do the bare minimum of parenting. Or so it feels and I then lay awake at night feeling so guilty.

I'm doing the right things, exercise x3 times a week, getting involved with family a bit more and obviously now the therapy but I still have more bad days then good. I'm terrified of medication as is my partner as we both seen our parents be on meds their whole life and struggle with the right dose, coming off them and spiraling. I already told the doctor I want and end plan but she thinks once I get used to them I'll want them for the long run.. I don't want to be on them say 1 year from now. I do think I need an boost for now but I'm terrified!

Any experiences on this drug and if you eventually came off them permanently?

Sorry for the ramble...

OP posts:
User16042025 · 14/07/2025 22:49

Hi OP, I've had awful PND with both my babies and had to start Sertraline both times. It takes a couple of weeks to kick in, but I felt so much better when it did. Prior to the Sertraline I was an absolute mess, suicidal at times. I've had no lasting side effects coming off it, as long as you do it steadily and guided by your GP.
I hope you are OK, PND was absolute hell for me but please know this is only temporary and you will be out the other side of it very soon, take one day at a time. I well remember the angry outbursts, the wanting to run away, the crushing loneliness but these feelings will pass ❤️

BluePonyClub · 16/07/2025 10:25

@User16042025 Sorry to hear you had such a difficult time. It's so strange like everything you wanted is here yet you feel so awful about it! I'm in day 2 of Setraline today and I have to say the side effects are intense they're a little scary. I couldn't sleep last night and i don't want to eat I've protien shakes here so just been having them so I get something into me. I also have racing thoughts like not negative per say but just racing. I don't know if you've ever taken a certain drug in your youth, but I did twice and it feels like coming down from that, thankfully not as intense but similar. I can function through the day just hoping this feeling gets better!

OP posts:
User16042025 · 16/07/2025 11:56

What time do you take it? I found if I took it in the evening I couldn't sleep, but I only started trying to take it in the evening because if I had it in the morning it gave me a funny tummy! But these things did ease with time. Just persevere, you will feel so different in a couple of weeks x

BluePonyClub · 16/07/2025 17:00

I took it in the afternoon yesterday when I picked up my prescription and took it early AM today. I had a nap and when I woke up I felt awful. Like actually thought I wasn't going to be able to look after my baby or pick my toddler up from nursury. Very hot too.. I thought after my nap I can't take these but it's eased a little however it is all a bit much!

OP posts:
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