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Original poster

Anyone had a baby whilst on Sertraline?

78 replies

Hangingbellyofbabylon · 06/01/2009 11:06

I'm currently on 50mg/day of Sertraline and have been for the last 8 months or so; and just had a positive pregnancy test at the weekend. During my previous pregnancies I had severe and extreme pre-natal anxiety, insomnia and OCD. I'm currently on the Sertraline for anxiety and insomnia and I really don't want to have to stop if I can avoid it as I am terrified of how unstable I was during my last pregnancies. Does anyone experience of taking Sertraline in pregnancy?

OP posts:
scarlettskye · 06/01/2009 14:48

I did. She is now 23 months old and fine - so am I. having suffered pnd twice, i was put on sertraline whilst pg and it seemed to stop me suffering again.
went up to 150mg on it but reduced to 100mg a month before edd to prevent withdrawal symptoms in baby.

congratulations by the way xx

Original poster
Hangingbellyofbabylon · 06/01/2009 15:40

Thanks Scarlettskye - that's really good to hear. I'm doing so well at the moment compared to how I would normally be at this time of year so it is well worth it for me to be on the Sertraline.

OP posts:
peanuthead · 07/01/2009 16:24

me too - have been on it for 10 years and took it throughout pg and throughout breastfeeding - was on 50 mg day and dd is fine. and so am I.

both my dr and my midwife were firm that I should stay on it.

Congratulations!!!

Original poster
Hangingbellyofbabylon · 08/01/2009 16:57

Thanks Peanuthead - good to hear.

OP posts:
larahusky · 10/01/2009 23:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

gigglewitch · 10/01/2009 23:23

me too. Had it whilst pg and bf ds2, then from just before birth of dc3 - still on it.
At ages 5yo and 3yo now they are very bright little happy people, no effects on them whatsoever.
Wishing you a boring and settled pg, congrats.

Original poster
Hangingbellyofbabylon · 10/01/2009 23:28

thanks! I'm hanging in there still - it's a week since I first tested positive and since I have no idea how pregnant I am (irregular cycles and general forgetfullness) I think I'd better go and try to get an early scan next week sometime. It's really good to hear about all these happy healthy children and more importantly the happy mums! Did any of you have to reduce your dose in the last trimester at all? one thing I read said you need to stop it in the last trimester and that kind of freaks me as it is generally when my mental health is most badly affected. I'll ask the GP when I see him next week anyway.

OP posts:
gigglewitch · 10/01/2009 23:32

i took a higher dose in the last tremester with ds2. not huge, but higher. Try not to add this to your panic list, yes I know it is the job description but it looks like there are a fair few of us around here who have similar experiences

gigglewitch · 10/01/2009 23:32

that would be trImester - oops

IdrisTheDragon · 10/01/2009 23:33

I started taking Sertraline when I was 12 weeks pregnant with DD. I took 100mg and was taking that dose all the way through pregnancy and for a while afterwards. I breastfed her for 10 months. There was never any suggestion of my stopping taking it during the last trimester.

She is now a very lovely 3 year old

gigglewitch · 10/01/2009 23:34

I went to 100 mg too - sorry i meant to say in my last post...

ellasmum1 · 10/01/2009 23:36

Do not worry at all. I was put on sertraline 50 mg when i got pregnant instead of citalopram as my consultant said its the safest for pregnancy and breastfeeding. I was fine and my 10lb 2oz baby boy was fine, and is a wonderfully healthy happy 4 mth old now. I went up to 100mg postnatally (was still breastfeeding) as I felt a bit down.

jasmeeen · 10/01/2009 23:43

I was taking 40mg fluoxetine for the first five months of my pregnancy and then got switched to sertraline 50mg for the rest of the pregnancy as the consultant said that it was safer for the baby.

My baby was fine and is a strapping 2 year old now. A few weeks after the birth I went up to 100mg and the consultant was happy for me to BF on that dosage.

Switched back to fluoxetine after I had finished BFing.

mummytopebs · 10/01/2009 23:55

Hi i have just set up another thread about irrational thoughts and ocd but the main thing i wanted to know is if anyone knows if clomprimine is safe in pregnancy, i have had 2 mc whilst on clom and want to try again for another baby but v worried about another mc

scarlettskye · 11/01/2009 07:46

I was on 150mg but was advised to drop to 100mg in the very last 4 weeks so that any withdrawals were limited (in baby). I was also adamant on a homebirth, which I had, and was just told to observe for jitteryness and any breathing changes.
I was under the care of a perinatal psychiatrist who liaised with my obstetrician and this was the current advice (Jan 2007)
i've not known anyone who has had to stop sertraline altogether in the last trimester so please try not to worry

Original poster
Hangingbellyofbabylon · 18/03/2009 18:01

Hi everyone - I have resurected thread because I am now 14 weeks pregnant and last night had my first panic attack for over a year and already I can feel it all slipping away, it's like some scary downward spiral and horrible as for me it lasts until the birth of the baby. . I'm going to try and see my GP tomorrow and go onto 100mg a day (currently on 50mg) - in fact I'm thinking of just going ahead with the 100mg in case I can't get an appointment until next week or so. Does anyone remember when they upped the dose, did it take long to feel the improvement?

OP posts:
ouchitreallyhurts · 19/03/2009 12:40

Oh no, I'm sorry to hear that.
I remember feeling better within a couple of weeks as I went from 100-150mg. the CPN told me that I'd need to increase due to the amount of blood increasing with pregnancy and normal dose became too dilute.
was there anything that triggered your panic attack that you can think of? or was it one of those horrible unexplained types

Original poster
Hangingbellyofbabylon · 20/03/2009 12:26

Well, I couldn't see the doctor till this afternoon so have upped my dose myself to 100mg a day since Tuesday. I am starting to feel more in control already so I'm just hoping the doctor agrees to up the dosage as well otherwise I'll be running out pretty fast and trying to buy sertraline on the black market . My mental health is so important, especially as I have two other dd's to think of, I just can't afford to be as bad as I was with the last two pregnancies.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hangingbellyofbabylon · 29/05/2009 14:35

hi, just another update from me . The 100mg/day really helped for a couple of months but this last week it has all been creeping up on me again. I saw the GP this morning and he said to go up to 150mg/day. I asked about reducing dose before the baby is born and he said not to worry about it but I do . I am really concerned about the baby suffering withdrawal but I do need this medication, I need to be on top of things and never want to be as bad as I was with the last two pregnancies. I did read today that the chances of withdrawal are the same on all doses so in theory it shouldn't make any difference what dose I'm taking. Has anyone actually had a baby with withdrawal symptoms? it must be terrifying.

OP posts:
ouchitreallyhurts · 29/05/2009 17:15

my daughter was born Jan 2007 after I'd been on a dose of 150mg - I was reduced to 100mg though 2 weeks before EDD.

She didnt' have significant withdrawals and I breastfed whilst still on the meds so I think that helped, but she was the most placid, calm and relaxed of all my 4 dc's! I put that down to the meds.
I was told that I had to look out for jitteryness and breathing problems - she had neither of these.

I know its such a hard decision for you and I really hope that my story helps reassure you somewhat.
My daughter (no.3) was born after I had NO medication and she was incredibly jumpy and anxious. didnt' sleep for ages and even now aged 4 hates loud noises.

Original poster
Hangingbellyofbabylon · 29/05/2009 22:42

thank you ouch, that is very reassuring. My dd2 born after no meds and after a very stressful pregnancy with loads of anxiety, depression and ocd was an incredibly unsettled jumpy baby - sounds just like your dd3. I've talked to dh today after losing the plot and crying loads when he got home from work. We've decided that for myself and for the whole family I need to get this sorted now and will deal with whatever may be at the time. I've been such a cow to my lovely dd's today and it's just not fair on any of us.

OP posts:
LackaDAISYcal · 29/05/2009 22:56

hangingbelly....congrats on your pregnancy and I hope that things are getting better for you. I had really bad AND/anxiety when pregnant with my DD two yesars ago and was taking sertraline postnatally as it's considered best for BFing. I got pregnant again when she was 8 months and stopped the meds myself as I felt uncomfortable taking them, but went back onto fluoxetine at three months; mainly because my GP felt that because it had been around longer there was more data rather than any specific safety concerns with the sertraline. Anyway, my DS was fine when he was born, but it was the wee small hours and he got really cold (his temp dropped to 35.5 deg) and was a bit jittery and his blood sugars were low. the paeds were sure this was as a result of the ADs but I had dropped it to 20mg every third day and my psych and I weren;t so sure it was that that caused it.

Anyhoo, my fluoxetine intake not really relevant as you are continuing with the sertraline, but I found this which might give you some reassurance on dosages etc. I'm still taking sertraline (75mg a day but I need to increase it again) and BFing my chubster of a DS who is meeting all the relevant milestones just fine. My pshych, who is the head of the perinatal team at our local hospital is more than happy with sertraline and BFing, but I did meet a lot of resistance to the idea of BFing and ADs from the paeds in the same hospital and was being put under a bit of pressure to FF which I didn't want to do. Just for you to be aware of that if you are planning on BFing

Weegiemum · 29/05/2009 23:38

Yes - I took sertraline right through 2 pregnancies and breastfed 3 times with it - I now have fabby 5, 7, and 9 year old dcs with no bother. It kept me sane both pre and post natally and I am thankful for it.

Currently on it again as depression has recurred.

Jamma · 02/06/2009 08:45

First time Mumsnetter.

I've just been diagnosed with PND and have started taking sertaline this morning. I am incredibly anxious (duh!) about the meds and how it will affect my bubs who is currently BF.

Scanning through this thread has helped reassure me somewhat but any words of encouragement at this point would be gratefully received!

LackaDAISYcal · 05/06/2009 23:01

Jamma, just seen your post and hope you are OK.

Welcome to MN but sorry you are feeling low. I've got a seven month old DS and have been taking ADs since I was three months pregnant with him and swapped to sertraline when he was born. I've done lots of research on it and am happy it's the best drug for me, and also for him in terms of it tracing in my milk.

I hope that you start to feel better soon.

how old is your DC? If you look in the being a parent section and at postnatal clubs, there are chat threads for each month and year. Lots of advice and support and empathy from mums with similar aged babies to be had on those. don't feel daunted by the fact that the other mums already "know" each other....people join in all the time on my november 08 thread and are always welcomed with open arms.