antidepressants - pregnancy and feeding

[dawniy]

We are wanting a baby really lots and lots but currently i have to be on antidepressants - has anyone any advice or experience???:( I'm a mum of 3 but am now with a devoted new husband.

my experience - I ended up on Prozac at 30 weeks pg - problems with OCD/depression whilst PG. I was actually encouraged to bf by my psychiatrist whilst on Prozac - he felt that my baby was less likely to experience withdrawal symptoms after birth if I bfed. apparently there are small traces of prozac in breast milk, but they don't affect the baby.

in general - docs are ultra cautious about any medication being taken whilst PG - ADs like prozac are so modern that there just isn't the research that shows they are 100% safe during PG - tho equally research that has been done on PG women who have taken Prozac/SSRIs tends to show that it's not likely to cause problems. so the decision about ads and pg tend to be taken on a case by case basis - the doc would weigh up the benefit to you of being less depressed against the possible risk to the baby of any medication - and a doc would probably err on the side of caution if they felt that you could manage without it.

probably a good idea to speak to your GP/psychiatrist if you have one whilst TTC about what they think should do - if you should try and stop it, decrease it, or just carry on as normal if you get PG.

best of luck
x

I was put on Zoloft while bf and I think it's OK should I get pregnant again, although we are not planning to do so. If you are on something else, perhaps ask your OB about switching to this one.

thank you both for your replies it's really nice to feel somebody wants to lend an ear! - i'm on escitalopram and beta blockers - diagnosed possible bipolar disorder but quite stable now my medication is right - my new hubby and I are Very broody and I've not dared mention it to my GP yet.
Some people just don't understand you can be too ill to teach (my job) cos of stress - but quite able to live and carry on your life - and our life won't be complete without being parents together. DH only 30 and no kids of his own.

thanks for the breastfeeding advice too :)