can i have your opinions on BF decision please?

[ithoughtofitfirst]

I know these threads can be quite heated but this is just a genuine what would you do type question!

My last pregnancy and labour went really well and I had a healthy boy. I breastfed him for 9 weeks before having to go on a stronger antidepressant and then just popped him straight onto formula with no issues. He is now a healthy happy 2 year old.

Ok so this time I am taking said strong antidepressants all the way through my pregnancy (I'm 22 weeks) but psychiatrist said if I want to breastfeed again I can switch back to sertraline in time for the birth and postnatal period. He did kind of hint that now might be a good time to trial a switchover rather than dicking around with my meds when I've just had a baby. A really good point.

But now I'm left with that massive decision because I can see the pros and cons of each scenario. I really enjoyed breastfeeding while it lasted (it was about the only thing I did enjoy) but then really enjoyed other people offering to see to him overnight knowing I could just rest.

I can't remember giving a crap about guilt or any of the nonsense that women put themselves through over the decision at that time. I was told not to continue breastfeeding and that was that really. But this time I feel like I must do for one what I did for the other... if that makes sense. I am very much in camp give yourself a guilt trip over everything these days and now I don't know what to do.

Was hoping someone might be able to help? X

kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/meds/antidepressants-hale10-02/

effexor is the brand name for venlafaxine.

While it's normally for premmie babies you could also look at the techniques of Kangaroo care. basically you wear a sling and have baby in it but you don;t have a shirt on under the sling.

I gave up breastfeeding after 3 weeks as my anxiety was taking over, I went on to have just over 2 years of treatment after DS was born before I was off meds completely. I'm now 7+3 with number 2 and I'm already thinking about the possibilities for after delivery, in fact I discussed it with my Dr before we started ttc. I think in some situations your mental health has to be a priority over some decisions.
I think and this is just my opinion, you need to take breastfeeding out of the equation and look at how you are, are you stable, do you feel well, are your symptoms under control, do you feel like you're in a place where you could realistically change your meds without too much upheaval?
If that is a possibility then great breastfeeding is an added bonus if not then maybe breastfeeding has to be off the table.
As you said in your OP it's nothing to feel guilty about either way and trite as it sounds, happy mummy = happy baby

I loved breastfeeding, but with DC2 I burst into tears every time I let down for the first week. It was the most bizarre thing, just made me inexplicable sad and weepy. That passed of course, but just a thought if you had a bit of a miserable time with your last newborn x

mummy I had a friend complain about that! Weird. I suppose a surge of hormones of any kind is bound to have the potential to have a strange effect on you. I cried when I breastfed come to think of it but not really in a sad way. I cried a lot though to be fair!