Worried.... please read.

[Hotpinkangel19]

I am 5 weeks 5 days pregnant, and as soon as I found out I stopped taking my medication (Venlafaxine, for Health anxiety) which is making me feel horrible as it's a withdrawal 🙁 This is my 5th pregnancy (I have 3 children.) On top of this, my mum only has days/weeks left to live. I'm heartbroken. I'm worried for my dad, and for the unborn baby that I may affect by being so stressed and upset. Mum has been in and out of hospital and I haven't been eating well,and I have put 2 stone on in 2 months 😕- I know, it's disgusting. So this leaves me high risk, so now I'm scared something happens and I leave my babies without a mum, just like I'm going to be without my mum soon. I'm so so scared.

Did you see a GP about stopping your meds? I think you need an urgent GP appointment to talk this through and find a pregnancy safe medication for you. Please talk to someone in RL too

Oh and congratulations about your pregnancy. Sorry about your mum. Big hugs

There are some medications for anxiety that you can still take when pregnant so please get a gp appointment straight away.
I'm sorry to hear about your mum try to take care of yourself as best you can.
I know you normally won't have seen a midwife yet but perhaps you can ring and ask them for an early appointment so you can talk to them too

Congratulations on your pregnancy. I am so sorry to hear you are going through such a shit time, Have you spoke to your GP? It's not an easy time for you but try and eat well so you and baby are in good health, don't worry too much about weight gain ( unless you are already overweight? ) it can be shed! have you spoke to someone in RL about things? You need support too.

Congrats on your pregnancy. :) As pp have said though, please, please speak to a GP as soon as you can. They can help you with this.

I am overweight :-( BMI is 34. I have spoken to my GP who said that since I had missed 3 tablets when I saw her, she was happy for me to stay off them, and if I feel I need something else she will look at options with me. My midwife appt is booked for 25/5.

I'm so sorry about your mum. Please get a GP's appointment to discuss your meds - some are OK for taking in pregnancy, and 9 months is a hell of a long time to go without the medicine you need - no-one would recommend anyone going without medication for a physical ailment for the whole of pregnancy unless absolutely necessary, so why should mental illness be any different? There will be options.

Please be kind to yourself - you are NOT disgusting for having put on weight, it's a natural reaction to stress, and you are dealing with more than most without even taking your anxiety into account. Although I know a lot of excess weight can cause issues I think your anxiety is blowing things out of proportion a little; again, please chat to your GP. I think maybe even try to book a double appointment to discuss meds, weight, and how to deal with what you're going through.

And congrautulations on your pregnancy!

Can you see another GP? Missing three tablets does not mean all is well, it just means you've managed for three days.

Just try and focus on eating as well as you can and trying to look after yourself as best you can at this awful time. If you do feel like you need meds that are safe in pregnancy then make sure you get an emergency appointment with your GP, but if she is happy for you to be off of them and you are doing ok for the time being then that's not a bad thing, just take each day as it comes and try not to stress yourself ( I know it's easier said than done )

What strength of Venlafaxine were you taking op?

Thank you 😊 I was taking a low dose luckily, according to the GP. 37.5.

Oh Op, I'm so sorry you are having this struggle.

37.5mg per day isn't even a therapeutic dose of venlafaxine. I am two weeks away from giving birth to my second, and I have been on 125mg of venlafaxine throughout.

I am fully aware there is a small chance of increased likelihood of certain respiratory issues, but the increased risk is TINY, and my psychiatrist (a very well known and respected Harley Street one who specialises in pre and postnatal mental health) was absolutely clear that my and my baby's health were much better off this way versus for me to enter a sudden drug free wobble or nose dive while pregnant.

I wish you all the best and hope your thread shows you that ADs during pregnancy aren't as black and white as you feared,

@LHReturns Thank you xxxx