Anyone taking sertraline and also breastfeeding?

[Singsoul91]

Hey.

Anyone taking sertraline and breastfeeding?

I'm worried as it says tiny amount gets passed to your baby through the milk.

What are people's experiences on it?

I'm 11 pp and never had depression or anxiety in my life! Not sure whether to take it

You should speak to your midwife/health visitor about it. Only a time amount would get through anyway

Hi OP

I am, DS is 4 weeks and I was actually on it in my last trimester and my friend is also on them and bf

Do you know what dosage you would take? I'm on the smallest amount and it's made a huge difference and DS is absolutely fine x

Yes - been taking it since 5weeks pp and LO is nearing his 1st birthday (still bf’ing). He’s in the 91st percentile for height and weight, reaching all milestones and is a happy, active baby. It’s made a huge difference to our life, bond and happiness. I’d recommend the below link for checking any drug interactions with breastfeeding, gives the facts:

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/antidepressants/

Thanks everyone.

Glad it's not effected the babies. I just get paranoid with stuff like this. As you can imagine!

My HV advised to try the medication as will give me that lift to get through the day.

My partner seems to think it isn't depression and that it is just lack of sleep.

Has anyone had a partner that says this too? He's against me taking it.

My partner was always very supportive of me taking it as he knew I wouldn't be considering it unless I was really struggling

You know yourself best, and it's your body, if you think it will help and clearly your HV does I would say it's needed.
is it purely lacking energy or is there other signs as well?

That's very true! Got to do what's right for you.

Lack of sleep is main thing but I feel very low most days and cry a lot! For like no reason at all.
No motivation to get out the house but I force myself too as I know it's better to.
I had a very traumatic labour and think a lot stems from that.
Never had anxiety but got that now too. Feel a mess then get more upset because I feel I shouldn't feel like this.

My partner seems to think crying a lot is normal as I'm a new mum and hormones but I think it's more than that surely it's not right to feel like this.

The hormone side of it "baby blues" is normally up to the end of the second week, if you're unsure you could give it a few days and see how you're doing? It does sound like they may help as your symptoms sound very similar to mine, except I hid it until my DD was 8 months

Would your HV consider talking to your DP? To help him understand what your are going through and ways he could help?

Yes I take 75mg and I've breastfed my LO from birth, he is now 1. Healthy, happy and I am still here. I don't know how I would have made it without the medication helping me. It's the safest ssri to take with breastfeeding. I hope you're feeling better soon OP x

ShyOwl - Thank you!

I'm 11 weeks PP tomorrow so it's definitely not the baby blues eh. I will be researching sertraline and just seeing if I want to take it. I just don't want to become dependant on it. I've always avoided medication where possible.

What was your symptoms like? That must be awful feeling that way for 8 months and not saying anything.

Is it normal to feel this way after a baby...

@PintOfBovril

Yes I take 75mg and I've breastfed my LO from birth, he is now 1. Healthy, happy and I am still here. I don't know how I would have made it without the medication helping me. It's the safest ssri to take with breastfeeding. I hope you're feeling better soon OP x

Glad it worked for you! I hope i do too thank you

I’m breastfeeding DS while on sertraline, only 50mg at the moment but will be increasing. I fed DD while on it too and took 200mg at my worst point.

Please don’t be put off taking medication - you wouldn’t have been prescribed it if you didn’t need it. If you were asthmatic you’d take inhalers to help you, antidepressants are there to help correct an imbalance in your brain. It’s highly unlikely you’ll become dependant on it but it will help you feel more balanced and more like yourself.

I'm bf and on sertraline. Been on it a few months now. DD2 is just over one. I was unsure about taking it, also worried about it affecting her but I decided that a depressed/anxious mum was worse for her overall. I also had the realisation the lack of sleep and hormones were big factors in my mood but they aren't easily fixed and sertraline has massively helped me. Hope you feel better soon.

I was on it even before pregnancy. 150mg so quite a high dose. DD has just turned three months. Sertraline is meant to be one of the safest ones in pregnancy so I presume it is similar to bf with. DD is my first but she has hit the relevant milestones so far and is as normal as I would expect a baby to be. My consultant said they can have a bit of withdrawal when born but said really it's a technically they can type thing, because it isn't generally noticeable or problematic.

@EnglishRain - this is very interesting info! I've just been referred to the perinatal mental health team as hoping to TTC. Were you in touch with perinatal or just your GP?

Your HV will have seen a lot more new mums than your partner, and will have a better idea of what is normal and what might benefit from medication than he will.

I have taken Sertraline through pregnancy and 7 months of breastfeeding and had no problems.

Remember the choice not to take medicine also has consequences for you, your baby and your partner - only you can weigh up the options but it isn’t just medicine/no medicine, it’s also more mental health symptoms vs (hopefully) fewer mental health symptoms.

Good luck whatever you choose! And remember the decision is yours alone.

Thank you everyone for your input.
You don't know how much it means.

I spoke to my HV who did the questionnaire and said I have moderate depression and anxiety and referred me to perinatal team and also said to ring the gp regarding meds.

I had an ultimate breakdown this morning. My mum had to collect my LO as I felt I couldn't carry on in the day. It's getting really bad now and I just want to sort it so bad. I put on a fake smile for my LO and everyone but I can't anymore. I don't want to look back in the future and all I can remember is how sad I was.

Is it normal for new mums to feel this way?

I was really tearful and down, I was always worried I was letting my daughter down. I'd get anxious about random things
I'd go to baby groups and feel so alone I'd walk back crying, or cry during the night time feeds while my partner slept.

It's not unusual to feel like that but you don't have to struggle on

I was put on 50mg for 6 months, it made the world of difference, I had kind of accepted that how I felt must be normal but it wasn't

I went back on it during this pregnancy mainly because of lock down but CBT and the tablets have really helped and I feel a lot better because of it

It's really good that you are acknowledging that you need support and have approached your HV, personally telling someone was the hardest step so well done

My kids are much older now, but I took sertaline whilst breastfeeding both kids.
Both boys are healthy, happy, and thriving at school. They also benefited from a mum who could function when they were tiny.
Give it a go til after Christmas. Reevaluate - with the GP - after then. For me, they didnt get rid of the tiredness, but they lifted the fog and made everything much easier to deal with. My oldest was a demon for sleeping - his younger brother slept better as a newborn than his 2 yr old sibling. DS2 also slept through the night before his brother- so at least 2 years younger. Lack of sleep certainly doesnt help.

@Singsoul91

Thank you everyone for your input. You don't know how much it means.

I spoke to my HV who did the questionnaire and said I have moderate depression and anxiety and referred me to perinatal team and also said to ring the gp regarding meds.

I had an ultimate breakdown this morning. My mum had to collect my LO as I felt I couldn't carry on in the day. It's getting really bad now and I just want to sort it so bad. I put on a fake smile for my LO and everyone but I can't anymore. I don't want to look back in the future and all I can remember is how sad I was.

Is it normal for new mums to feel this way?

It’s not normal to feel sad all the time if everything in your life is going OK. My PND has manifested as being snappy/grumpy and having a lack of enthusiasm for things. I also can’t cope with DS crying because it makes me angry and I want to hurt him so he’ll stop crying. With DD my PND made me feel like she didn’t need or love me and like she’d be better off if I wasn’t her mum. It also made me struggle to bond with her and this time around it’s made me want both of my children not to exist/made me regret having them. Rationally I know it’s not me having those feelings, it’s my brain tricking me because of my PND.

ClaraLane - wow that's some deep thoughts there. I feel you and understand the snappy anger. I feel that way when he cries at 5am for no reason. It's not right. Did you go onto medication then?

LongGrass- good to hear your story. I will definitely give it a go as like you say you need a functioning mum. They take 4-6 weeks to kick in so best start now really.

ShyOwl - aw so glad it made a difference. I definitely think CBT will help too. Going to ring about that on Monday

@Singsoul91

ClaraLane - wow that's some deep thoughts there. I feel you and understand the snappy anger. I feel that way when he cries at 5am for no reason. It's not right. Did you go onto medication then?

LongGrass- good to hear your story. I will definitely give it a go as like you say you need a functioning mum. They take 4-6 weeks to kick in so best start now really.

ShyOwl - aw so glad it made a difference. I definitely think CBT will help too. Going to ring about that on Monday

Yes I’m back on the sertraline and feeling better for it. Feel free to PM me if you’d like someone to talk to.