Pregnancy and depression setraline

[HaylJay]

So basically I started on antidepressants again a few months ago after finding life very difficult and felt unable to cope. I find without them I become snappy, irritable, withdrawn, generally down and find life overwhelming.
I found the setraline I was prescribed massively has helped and I feel like I am doing so much better and doing a better job as a mum.
Now I am currently 6 weeks pregnant my doctor has given me contradicting advice. He said it is considered safe to take and many women take it no problem through pregnancy. He also told me it is best not to take them as they don't know for certain they're safe.
They say I have to weigh up the risks which just makes me feel so guilty. I feel I do need them to be able to function with day to day life and parenting my DS but the chance I could be harming my unborn baby with a drug just because I can't cope with my own head makes me feel so awful. I feel so worried about what could happen.
Has anyone had any experiences taking antidepressants they can share with me?
I'm not seeing much online about real life experiences from taking setraline in pregnancy.

[HaylJay]

Thanks for your response user1471541467
It's good to hear setraline is working well for your pregnancy 😊
Can I ask did you have to have any extra prenatal care due to being on medication?

[grainmum]

There is a great website that will hopefully give you clear facts about medication in pregnancy -bumps. It is run by the UK teratology information service. I think you will find the information on it reassuring as well as giving you all the facts.

[likeacrow]

I was prescribed it way too easily/quickly after a bad patch which passed. I just needed a short amount of time off work to get my head together and sort myself out.
I read up on the side effects and thought no way, not for me. The possible side effects to my unborn baby would have made me fee much more anxious and on edge than I was already. In actual fact it was probably being prescribed proper antidepressants for the first time that made me get my shit together and sort myself out. I didn't want to go down that road, especially when it could affect my unborn baby.
Obviously everyone is different that's just my personal experience and I definitely made the best decision for me.
Good luck with your pregnancy and I hope it all goes smoothly

[HaylJay]

Thankyou grainmum I've had a look very useful website.

[HaylJay]

Thanks for your response.
Glad things worked out well for you likeacrow 😊
Your totally right the possible side affects are so terrifying although there's not enough evidence to suggest they are defiantly cause by the medication.
My thoughts are that no medication is always going to bring those risks down.

Unfortunately it's not a bad patch for me at the moment it's being ongoing on and off for years
With my first pregnancy I did come off my antidepressants and I found things bad again and became withdrawn but I choose to deal with it for the sake of the unborn baby. At the time I thought that was the better option
If I could I would definitely do without them again for this pregnancy but it's not fair on my DS for me to be so low around him 😩
The setraline for me really does help and I manage to get on with things well with them.
I do find it very upsetting that I can't deal with this on my own and have tired all sorts of things other than medication but this seems to be the only way at the moment 😩
Also I'm like you being on medication does make me feel anxious about what harm it could be doing it's the only reason I'm questing it, I wish I could do this medication free 😢

[likeacrow]

It sounds like you know you need to be on it hayljay and your situation is totally different to mine. I don't think my dr should have prescribed them for me at all (in actual fact it was a "nurse practitioner" and I think he was being rash). Although like I said, probably a blessing in disguise as it gave me motivation to get better without medication. I don't have a long history of depression though, so I'm not saying everyone could do this.
You do what works for you, which sounds like it's being on the medication.

[FatOldBag]

No, no extra care necessary due to being on Sertraline at all. It's not raised an eyebrow among anyone tbh, it's quite a common prescription, even in pregnancy. I don't think you need to be as anxious as you are about it, I think honestly your worry will reduce a lot once you are back on it and feeling on a even keel emotionally. I do really feel for you. x

[Boos75]

I'm sorry you're having a tough time. Please don't worry about being on anti depressants. I've been on Sertraline for six years now and my GP actually changed me on to it from another antidepressant when I was trying to get pregnant as she said it was the safest one. I weaned myself off (with GP support) just before my DD1 was born but looking back that was a terrible mistake as I should've stayed on them. When she was 11 months old I had a big breakdown and was put back on Sertraline but 200mg (was under the community mental health team). Sertraline really saved my life. I fell pregnant with DD2 whilst on that high dose and during my pregnancy and with GP support I reduced the dose to 100mg and I've stayed on that dose since and have gone on to have a DS1. I was under consultant care for DD2 due to being on the medication but there were no concerns about the medication, more that they understandably had a duty of care. With DS1 last year I was again under a consultant but they said it was due to my advanced maternal age and not because I was on Sertraline as they weren't concerned about it. There have been no concerns at all about me breastfeeding whilst on it too.

[HaylJay]

Thanks likeacrow 😊 I hope things are well for you know.
You're probably right it seems medication would be best for me I just can't get over that worry of birth defects 😥

[HaylJay]

Thanks again "FatOldBag"
I'm being horrendous at the moment I feel sorry my DP too I'm just so irritable 😩
Thanks for your reassurance

[HaylJay]

Thankyou for your response Boos75 and I hope things are going well for you now!
So glad to hear the doctors were supportive with your setraline during pregnancy.
I feel like setraline really does improve my life and mood so much too. I feel like I can actually be myself on them

[Boos75]

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I hope hearing my story helps you a bit. Things are really good thanks and I do need to remember that when I'm stressing out about everyday things. I've got three DC under six and there's no way I could manage without Sertraline (I have a long history of OCD). I've had access to some amazing therapy in the past but for me I know it's the medication that works best. I understand your concerns about the potential risks but it's so very unlikely and you're on a low dose anyway. It's obviously your decision but I wouldn't think twice about it. The first trimester is such a stressful time that I'm sure once you've had your scan and your ante natal care is underway that you'll be able to relax and worry less about the meds - though feeling guilty does seem to be a major part of being a mum!

[Laura2507]

I had my 12wk antenatal yesterday and discussed the sertraline with the consultant. She said about 30% of pregnant women are on antidepressants! She wasn't concerned at all. She said they do tell paediatrics to check blood sugar when baby is born but it's normal process and everything I've found online suggests that sertraline is ok during pregnancy.
I am consultant led at the moment due to ivf, bmi 32 and sertraline but she says they could downgrade me to midwife led later so it's not that big a concern. She actually seemed more keen for me to stay on them as I said I was concerned about being more at risk from PND. My GP has no concerns either.