Panicking now about my Prozac.

[colditz]

I went to the doctor 4 weeks ago with horrible depression and anxiety, and he prescribed Prozac for me.

I've just been googling its use in pregnancy and breastfeeding, and apparently the baby can suffer Prozac-type side effects, and go through withdrawel when he's born.

I didn't want to do this to my baby, but I was in such a state I just took them. But now I am in a quandry.

I feel a lot better than I did, but my due date has been and gone, and this baby will be coming any day now. I'm not ready to finish the course, but I don't want to make my baby poorly. I wasn't told when I was given the medication that there were any risks attached, and I didn't read the leaflet because I knew it would only make me more anxious.

I don't know what to do for the best. I want to breastfeed this baby, but not if I am going to be pumping him full of a potentially dangerous drug while I do it. It's getting to decision time, I can't help feeling that if I formula feed him he will at least be safe from my mental problems and their solution as soon as physically possible.

I don't even know whether I am being rational here. I don't feel it.

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Hi Colditz

It can be a very hard time at the end of pregnancy. Physically, you can feel very uncomfortable, you have hormones racing every where. Anxiety isn't the word with so many changes and uncertainty. You can be very emotional and irrational and that's totally and utterly normal so I don't think this is a good time to be analising yourself.

I personally think that some doctors just pescribe this drug without any thought. I was pescribed it years ago at 18. I decided not to taken them after a few weeks and then gradually began sorting out the core of the problems i.e my living circumstances etc. The fact that he or she gave you no information regarding taking it and being pregnant or breast feeding makes me worry that you were seen by a careless doctor having a busy day.

All I can say is that breastfeeding can be very nurturing for mothers too (when they have got it worked out)and it is so, so good for babies which also makes you feel good about yourself for doing it. Even the hormones released in your brain when breast feeding can make you feel calm and relaxed. I have breastfed my son for 11 months and even though it was hard at the start it has been so enjoyable that I would hate anyone else who wants to do it, to miss out on it for no good reason.

My advise would be this...

1. Stop being hard on yourself - you're 9 months pregnant and if there's anytime in your life that your going to feel overwelmed and anxious - it's now.

1. Talk to a decent, caring medical professional, maybe your midwife or GP that is known to be good and find out the facts. Stop googling and scaring yourself. It may mean weighing up the good and bad but you need proper advise to do that.

1. This drug definatley helps some people, but is overperscribed and often just addressing certain issues in your life, getting suppport and learning some coping methods is enough. If they don't work, you can always take it again but if you do decide to come of them, check with a GP first.

Sorry for long post. Really feel for you and hope things reslove themselves. It is a hard but amazing time of your life (I was about due this time last year) and you will get though it!

Good luck and hugs x x x

colditz, I took it throughout my second pregnancy and beyond. Was breastfeeding for about 6 weeks. I was under the care of a psychiatrist and reviewing what medication I could or could not take was very stringent.

I have a very healthy 3 year old who is fine.

I was strongly advised to take it during and after my first pregnancy, but refused because I was so worried about possible effects on the baby. I became very ill and was a whisker away from being hospitalised due to severe post natal depression. With hindsight, it would have helped me a great deal, it certainly did the second time round.

ps - have namechanged but I'm a regular who went through a very tough few years for one reason and another.

Thanks for your reassurance.

The thing is I know I need some sort of help, in the form of an antidepressant, as I have suffered depression a lot of my adult life. I am also receiving councelling and my counceller agrees with this.

The breastfeeding thing isn't about what I want to do, just what would be physically best for the baby. I won't be miserable if I can't breastfeed, but if I don't and then I find out it was safe and beneficial, or if I do then find out he would have been 'safer' on formula, I'll be very upset.

sorry to hear you have been feeling so awful.It would be good to go back to your Gp, maybe try and see a different one at your practice, or enquire if any of them have any special interest in mental health or obstetrics.They should be able to talk you through the pros and cons of taking Prozac while breastfeeding.

Another good thing to do would be to ring La Leche League helpline who have masses of research to do with taking different drugs while feeding.The number is usually in the antenatal book.

i took Prozac all through my pregnancy and while feeding my now five month old, albeit a quite small dose .i looked at the research involving women sometimes taking large doses of prozac and decided the best thing for me and the baby would be to breastfeed the gains would outweigh the risks but this may not be true for you.
i would suggest maybe switching to another drug such as Seroxat which does not stay in the bloodstream for so long but if the Prozac suits you this may not be worth doing.

although i am very pro- breastfeeding i decided that i would do what was best for my mental health as well as the baby, whether that would involve expressing or mixed feeding or whatever.

i would reiterate the great effect breastfeeding has with its calming hormones for both you and babe too.

Hope you get some good help from docs and breastfeeding support lines.
Wishing you all the best for the birth-