pregnancy and anti-ds

[inthewoods4]

Hi everyone,
I had PND with my DD nearly 4 years ago, and with the help of citalopram recovered pretty quickly. Everything was fine until I had a relapse in January totally out of the blue, and again took citalopram. I'm feeling much, much better now. We've always wanted 2 children, and I feel that Spring would be the best time to have another as I'd be off work when my DD starts school. But that would mean trying pretty quickly... I'm still on the citalopram 30mgs and really don't want to come off them anytime soon. I've read loads and feel it would be best for me to carry on with them, but what worries me is that if I take them through PG and then get PND after, what is there left to help? Or do you think the Ads would stop the PND getting too bad? I hope this makes sense? Thanks so much xxx

Hi I also had postnatal depression very badly after my first son was born, I was under a Psychiatrist, mental health team and they put me on citalopram. I got better very quickly with help. My son turned 2 in march.

I'm now 29 weeks pregnant and stupidly thought it wouldn't happen again but I started to suffer with very bad anxiety around 16 weeks and again ended up under mental health team and seeing prenatal Psychiatrist and they have put me on 50mg of setraline.

I'm feeling alot better and apparently sertraline is one of the safest and most researched in pregnancy. I'm also worried about how I will feel after birth.

I do think once health professionals are aware of what has happend before and no you need more help you will bet it you can talk about your worries etc.

I'm booked in with a specialised mental health midwife and already booked in to see Psychiatrist after birth xx

Thank you LBNM19, I am really nervous about how pregnancy and birth is going to make me feel- I've just recovered from a pretty hideous time! I think my main worry is that if I'm on medication during pregnancy and then still get PND, what else can I do? I guess just go up on the anti-ds?
Has your midwife said anything about this? XX

Hello, just to let you know I came off citalopram just before I got pregnant but last week after a month of feeling myself get more anxious and depressed I went back to the doctor and he put me straight back on them. I'd say talk to your doctor and don't just come off as you may well end up having to go back on them and then you have all the side effects again like I am having.
see what your doctor says. He may just suggest going down to 20mg. You need to be happy to be a good mum is what I keep telling myself and if you need them then you need to have them.
best of luck and let us know how you get on.x

I'm thinking that ads will help to stave off the pnd and you can always go up if you need too.x

Thank you Kitkat, I think I need to be on them permanently really. I don't think I could cope with a pregnancy without them! X

I've been on Sertraline for years, and discussed it with my GP before getting pregnant. We worked to reduce the dose a bit, but I have stayed on them throughout (apparently Sertraline is very safe - don't know about Citalopram, but your GP will be able to tell you).I would absolutely advise you to go to your GP to talk it all through, as they will have seen and handled it all before.

I have been referred to the mental health antenatal team, and we discussed the possibility of PND a few weeks ago (when I was about 30 weeks). She said that the fact that I'm getting help now is a big factor and should massively reduce the possibility of PND, but she said that if it does happen, they can increase the medication if they need to and if that's what I feel I need, and will also provide lots of other support. It should still be fine to breastfeed etc.

She also said that a lot of people who get PND have actually been depressed beforehand but didn't recognise it, and being on ADs ahead of time is a big step in preventing PND.

I would say the best thing is to go to your GP now, and discuss the options. They will be able to advise you on which medication is best to take, how to get yourself in as good a came off mind as possible, and they can put extra support in place if you need it.

Agree a trip to the gp

I was on citalopram for a year before I got pregnant and everything was totally fine and I bf dd too. (On the advice of my consultant and the head psychiatrist)

I'd love not to be on them but the worry about the anxiety coming back is stopping any serious consideration at the moment.