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Breastfeeding and postnatal depression - options please!

15 replies

Honeymoonmummy · 04/04/2009 21:03

Hi all, I have recently been prescribed Sertraline for PND, my DD is 5 months old and has reflux which has been gradually improving, esp since I went dairy-free 4 weeks ago. I have taken sertraline for 3 days and on the third day they made me nauseous/ sick, which the doctor told me to expect.

However, on the same day (yesterday), DD was much more sick than usual too. I don't know if this is because of the drugs themselves or the fact that they contain lactose which I would have thought would be too small an amount to make her sick.

I haven't taken one today as I'm worried about the effects on her.

Has anyone got any advice about possible alternatives for me, eg homeopathy, dietician, acupuncture, herbal remedies that are OK for BF?

OP posts:
Riallytoofattoflounce · 04/04/2009 21:54

bumping for you.

take care.

Honeymoonmummy · 04/04/2009 21:58

Thanks Rially

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thisisyesterday · 04/04/2009 21:58

hiya, I would keep taking them and see how she goes. it could have been a coincidence.

if not though there are plenty of other AD's you can take. ask your GP for advice on whether they contain lactose

Honeymoonmummy · 04/04/2009 22:02

I know what you mean Thisisyesterday but I have been keeping a close eye on what I eat and I know there were no other changes in my diet to make her sick. I'm going to go back to the GP on Monday but don't want to take these AD's in the meantime, it's only 3 days down the drain...

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Claire2009 · 04/04/2009 22:05

Pick-Me-ups ...

St Johns wort
Chinese Herbs

A good b complex...i started one recently by Solgar in health store, it's called megaabsorb and absorbs better than many other b complex ones. B complex helps stress so helps with the anxiety that often turns to depression.

Avena sativa - a herbal tincture in health store also helps anxiety and depression. Or there is another called PAssiflora which helps anxiety / depression related to PMS. Ask at a good health store for some advice

Fish oils - lots of studies show they help. I take Eskimo 3 liquid as liquid absorbs better and eskimo is pure and has about the highest EPA and DHA in it compared to other brands. It's pricey but i feel more confident taking this brand as i think it will absorb better than some others.

diet- cut out white starchy foods, eat wholemeal, lots of fruit veg, oily fish, less red meat, more white meat. Watch sugar and alcohol which only make depression worse.

Exercise- if you can it helps boost endorphins. Very hard to find motivation to do this if very low but nows the time to implement it if you feel you are only slightly low. Even a walk daily with baby in buggy getting sunlight and fresh air can help. Start little.

Try and make time for a laugh each day. DP & I can be quite childish and we often have a silly giggle in the evening when DD goes to bed.

Intimacy- sex can help Or so i claim cause it boosts endorphins cause it's sexercise and it brings me closer to DP so all in all it's a good thing

Time for you! Indulge yourself in things you enjoy as much as you can. Read a good article some time ago. It said each day plan a small treat for yourself, as in maybe time for a bath, maybe read a favourite mag, meet up with a best friend etc. Then plan some special each weekend...maybe go out with DH for a meal, cinema etc...then plan for things down the road like a holiday or something bigger.

I always feel when I am mentally stronger that if i stick to all these things that do help then it keeps me stronger for longer. Counselling works wonders for me too.

Accept all offers of help you can get, you need lots of rest when your little one is so small. Sleep always helps me. I go bananas when i lack sleep and it nearly always sparks a low I love my sleep and it works wonders for my health.

Best Wishes.

LackaDAISYcal · 04/04/2009 22:16

I'm taking sertraline honeymoon, and did with DD as well and didn't notice any adverse effects on the LOs. I did start taking it on day 1 though as was taking fluoxetine in pregnancy. I'm under the care of the preinatal mental health team who deal with pregnant and nursing mums on a daily basis and sertraline is their drug of choice, precisely because it has such a low transfer rate.

Could it be a co-incidence and she has a bit of a bug?

There is more information on sertraline HERE which may reassure you a bit.

kellymom on St John's Wort but note that it says it's really only beneficial for mild depression. Depending how ill you have been, the medication may be the best thing for you in the short term.

If you need any further reassurance, the breastfeeding network have a drugline, where you can talk to someone about the medication you have been prescribed. It might be worth giving them a call?

Take Care

LackaDAISYcal · 04/04/2009 22:18

arses crap spelling.,.... that's peri-natal not preinatal

RubyBlueberry · 04/04/2009 22:21

I had sertraline for PND after both my babies, and was reassured by docs that the transfer rate was low.

You do have to keep taking it though to get the build up (? is that the right way of saying it?) in your system and your dreams will be majorly wacky but it was worth it for me.

I hope you get sorted hon

LackaDAISYcal · 04/04/2009 22:26

I was a bit seasicky and headachey with it to begin with but this levels out. I now get those feelings if I forget to take it for a few days.

Honeymoonmummy · 04/04/2009 22:36

Aargh, I don't know whether to take it tonight now...

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LackaDAISYcal · 04/04/2009 22:41

Sleep on it, read up some more and call the BfN in the morning lovely. I was told to take mine in the am anyway

Honeymoonmummy · 04/04/2009 22:42

Yeah me too, but I haven't had one today. I will do, thanks. I'll see you on the Nov thread!

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LackaDAISYcal · 04/04/2009 22:46

...feel free to CAT me if you want to talk offboard or need more info HM.

Night

ouchitreallyhurts · 05/04/2009 08:59

Hello

I took sertraline with 2 of mine while I breastfed and the elder of those two has a couple of allergies (cows milk/hazlenuts) but didnt' suffer due to my meds, ie. she wasn't sick when I was b/feeding iyswim.
there is a horrible tummy bug doing the rounds right now, could it be due to that maybe?

Honeymoonmummy · 05/04/2009 17:45

I think it might be that I need to increase her medication (renitadine). Shr wasn't very sick yesterday but has been really sick today.

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