Postnatal depression a few factual questions

[temponame]

Name changed
Anyone out there who has had PND and was put on anti depressants and has some kind of factual knowledge I would very much appreciate any input you have
Think i might have PND. Relationship with husband is at shut down, we don't talk but are both very much functioning people so you would never know from the home that anything was amiss however I feel so negative inside. Last night 6 month old had teething but although he woke 3 or 4 times he responded well to calpol / teething granules, however although I am chronically tired I hardly slept all night thinking about terrible things. When I eventually slept I had vivid dreams about my toddler being abused in the nursery I am trying to settle her into so I can return to work 4 days per week mid December. (I am trying to settle both babies in). Don't really get on with my boss but wont go into details
Failure to sleep last night made me realise I might actually be depressed. I have been obsessed with getting sterilised since the birth of my second baby (the six month old) although my husband is totally against it,I am now wondering whether my obsession with that is depression (we are sleep in separate beds so there is no real urgency to avoid any risk of pregnancy)

So the boring bit of background is now over
Questions about anti depressants should I be prescribed them at my GP appointment today

(1) Will they affect my breastfeeding (I am planning to give this up in the next month or so when I return to work but just wanted to know, my baby is very much comforted by breastfeeding so am anticipating a big fight from him when I move him onto formula)

(2) Will anti depressants make me less receptive to my babies (i.e. less empathetic, able to be warm and loving etc)

(3) Is there any way to get a temporary course of anti depressants without it going on your medical history (I guess the answer to this will be no of course not but thought I would ask anyway). Husband things they are the ultimate sign of weakness so would probably divorce me if he finds out I am taking them. I plan to keep them in my desk at work so not in the house

thanks for any thoughts out there in advance

sorry you're going through a rough time temponame

I had PND after the birth of DD1 so can sympathise. Fear of something bad happening can be part of depression, but it's really really difficult to say just from reading a post on a forum whether you are suffering from PND or not.

In answer to your questions:
(1) I was prescibed Fluoxetine (prozac) and advised not to breastfeed whilst taking it. I've learned since that there are ADs you can take whilst breastfeeding, so you wouldn't have to stop. I have a friend who has been bf her DD for over a year now whilst taking ADs with no problems.

(2) IME no they won't affect your ability to be warm and loving. In fact, Prozac helped me to be more receptive and loving because I really struggled to bond with her due to the PND.

(3) If you get ADs from your GP then it will go on your records. To be honest I don't understand why you wouldn't want it to? Depression is not a sign of weakness, it is an illness which is treatable with ADs.

Are you being serious when you say your husband would divorce you if he found out you were taking them? He sounds unsupportive and ignorant. I couldn't be with a man like that.

thanks for your post hellphire, it is helpful. i wasn't prescribed anything but the factual stuff you posted helps a lot