Pregnancy and Major Depression (WARNING)

[VixenAndCub]

I'm reaching out here to get some tips and advice more than anything.

I've had MDD since I was 12 (Im 25 now) and been on various medications/therapies. It's helped me deal with the bullying as a kid, my suicide attempts as a teen/early adult and the domestic abuse in my early 20s. I'm now with a good man, a decent job and a good support system.

However, now I'm pregnant I've gone cold turkey on my happy pills (Setraline, 100mg) and I've been struggling.

I broke down in work, leading to me now being on 2 weeks sick, and with a mix of pregnancy hormones and a lack of medication I'm a mess. I can barely sleep, haunted by terrible thoughts.

The thoughts have sometimes gone back to suicide. I even pondered suicide after birth so my child doesnt have to deal with me. I've been open with my partner, who has mild depression himself but he doesnt need meds, and he's been there as best as he can - but part of me feels he doesnt TRULY understand. I cant expect him to, he's not growing a baby whilst coming down off meds.

Also went back to my GP and she's still uncertain whether to put me back on the meds.

Are there any Mums with similar issues out there? How do/did you deal with it?

Look up pre natal depression. It's a horrible pregnancy related condition. Seek treatment asap. Sorry for quick reply but I'm half asleep breastfeeding. Will check in on thread again but I hope you get some help Nd feel better soon. There are meds you can take in pregnancy.

I had prenatal depression, with symptoms very like yours. The doctors were great once I told them how I was feeling. Please see your gp or midwife immediately. Do they know you’ve gone cold turkey on your anti depressants?

I'm sorry - that sounds so tough. I went cold turkey once I discovered I was pregnant (I was on fluoxetine). My pregnancy was tough but the baby gave me strength. I was just focused on getting to the birth.

The hospital were really good and wouldn't discharge me until I started medication. If you could just try for now to focus on getting to the birth and then get back on the medication immediately and make sure you have a good support system in place. I'm not going to lie, those few weeks after the birth while I was waiting for the medication to kick in with a newborn were the hardest and I felt suicidal and wanted to give my baby up. Looking back I wish I took up all the help offered as even staying in a special unit for mums and babies was offered to me. That might be something to consider but there is help out there. Please take it. It then gets so much better.

Sorry I would also add that I was overly cautious about taking medication but certain antidepressants are safe to take in pregnancy. It is personal choice but certainly you have to think about your health as well as that of your baby.

I think if your mental health issues are severe then you need to consider taking medication. I suffered with prenatal anxiety and depression during my 2nd pregnancy and I was very unwell. The mental health team came and saw me at home for a couple of weeks and then I had CBT and saw a psychologist specialising in mental health and pregnancy. They offered to put me on setraline 20mg and I took it because I felt I needed it. My little boy is coming up to 4 now and he is fine. Speak to your midwife or GP to find out what help you can get. X

I dealt with this in my last pregnancy. Is this your first? Please remember that the hormones can make existing depression a million times worse. I know it's contrary to what a lot of therapists might say, but while you're pregnant, you must remember that what you are feeling is NOT REAL. The hormones are literally taking over your mind. This happens to everyone to some extent, but can be especially horrific for people with a pre-existing condition.

I have spent my current pregnancy picturing myself as a rock at the bottom of the ocean, watching the storm of craziness splash around above. It has been surprisingly effective, but I am also in a much better place this time round.

You will feel better!! Always remember that this will pass - you just have to make it to delivery. Best wishes your way.

Going cold turkey is never a good idea and I find it hard to believe a GP would advise this

It’s safe to take some antidepressants during pregnancy and breastfeeding. I don’t understand why some women take the risk of not taking them. The benefits to Mum far, far outweigh any risk to your child. At high doses there is a risk of addiction post birth, but that can be managed. You should be working with a consultant paediatrician to figure all this out.

For anyone else with mental health issues on meds reading this and considering going cold turkey- Don’t! Instead read up, get specialist medical advice (be persistent, get a second opinion if needed) switch ADs if you need to but don’t put yourself and baby at risk by deciding to come off ADs when you’re not ready. ADs can be safe to take in pregnancy as the risk to baby small compared to risks associated with Mum stopping ADs.

OP- insist on immediate referral to a specialist mental health obestrician (obv not paediatrician!). Your GP is not going to be well placed to advise as this is a specialist area.

Pre natal depression is awful, the hormones wreck havoc with your mind. I suffered this too with DD1, and also have a history of unstable periods- pregnancy brought it all back, and made my anxiety a million times worse.

You really really need to speak to someone who can support you. I received pre natal counselling through the midwife service. Please check if they can offer this to you? Also, how many weeks are you? I found it was especially bad in the first trimester, though did continue to some extent throughout.

Probably not the case for everyone, but I have found having children has given me a different perspective of myself, and of my depression. It takes a while to adjust though.

Please ask your GP to refer you to a consultant obstetrician who can talk to you about the options re medication for depression during pregnancy so that you can make an informed decision. Going without medication is not necessary and it sounds like I’m this case may not be the best option.
Your midwife can also refer you for counselling or psychotherapy and you would have specialist support to reach yoshould you need it.
Pregnancy can be a challenging time please do it be afamarais to reach for specialist help.
All the best

Sorry for typos!

You are likely to be experiencing side effects from going cold turkey from anti-depressant which is never advised you should do - should always be titrated before stopping. I would make an apt to see your GP ASAP as there are antidepressants that are ok to take during pregnancy, as if you’re susceptible to feeling depressed anyway you may need this medication during pregnancy more so because of the hormonal changes etc. I am 15 weeks pregnant and have been struggling with low mood due to feeling so physically horrible and being off work which Is lonely but I have found that letting people know how I’m feeling has helped and I would encourage you to do the same.

I have been on various meds for mental health issues for about 20 years (I'm nearly 39) and have had four babies. I've been on 150-200mg setraline since shortly after having my first. I tapered it off in my first and second pregnancies and was off it by 20 weeks, but restarted after the births. With DD2 and DD3 I took 150mg the whole way through. (DD3 is nearly six months old) I breastfed them all too.
The only thing they did differently was monitor the babies after birth for withdrawal symptoms. Guidelines say 24-48 hours monitoring I think. The withdrawal will be less if you're on a lower dose and also baby will still get some meds passed through breast milk so the effect is gradual.
I think in the situation you describe, the benefit to you would far outweigh the risk to the baby. Definitely ask to see an obstetric doctor or a psychiatrist with an interest in perinatal mental health.
I hope you have a healthy rest of your pregnancy and feel able to look forward to things soon. It can be tough.

And I can't spell sertraline!

Sertraline is safe for use in pregnancy - it's nearly always the one that is used, if necessary. Did you come off yourself, or did the GP advise it? I think you need to ask for referral to the perinatal mental health team for support. It's likely that you are getting rebound from coming off too quickly, but also that you may need to stay on Sertraline. The specialist team can help you.

Hang in there. It's awful, but you will get through it.

As far as I know Sertraline is one of the safer antidepressants to take in pregnancy. Maybe ask your doctor to go on 50mg to see if the lower dose helps. I was on 50mg TTC then my doctor asked me to take one every other day to wean off in case I became pregnant. I was taking one every third day and could stop when I did get pregnant. Definitely see midwife about ante-natal MH support. And if you're feeling how you are it's probably going to be better for you and baby to take Sertraline again. My GP said she has patients on it who are pregnant.

Not much to add here that others haven't already said, but just want to offer a hand hold. It is terrifying and it feels endless, but you will feel better again. Hang in there, and insist on the support that you need and deserve

@BlueKittens
I didnt want to go cold turkey and even asked if I can have less dosage but she insisted I stop taking them and removed them from my repeat prescription.

Update: I've gone back to GP after my breakdown and she still insists I dont take meds as long as possible. I then spoke to my midwife about it so shes referring me to a specialist and PRAMS (which as far as I know is a support group for pregnant women/new mums with ill mental health) but the lists are loooong so I'm stuck for a while unless my GP listens to me 😕

OP oh my gosh - I actually can’t believe your GP did that. That is really dangerous action on her part and I would complain to the practice manager.

Please ring the midwife service now and explain your situation. Tell them it is an emergency and what your GP has done. Insist that someone sees you today / tomorrow who is not your GP. Go to the hospital if it would help - either the early pregnancy unit or the pregnancy service depending on how many weeks you are. Insist you get an assessment now which should include access to an appropriate AD prescription.

There are plenty of us on ADs during pregnancy and it is safe. Do not listen to people telling you otherwise. This is why mumsnet is so important- you can’t always put your trust in professionals as non-specialists can have errors of judgement (I had an experience with a trainee doctor who told me not to breastfeed - challenged and ignored!).

Hugs to you

I’m in shock that your gp doesn’t want to be more proactive. Enquire through your midwife as to whether there is specific mental health midwifes in your area and prenatal mental health service. In my first pregnancy I had to wait a long 2 months to see someone and restart meds when I was feeling like you are now, we have moved to a different area for this pregnancy and the last one which sadly ended in loss but they seem to be much more in the ball here and have referred me to the perinatal mental health team straight away from my booking appointment just as a “safety net”, which I’m so grateful for as I unfortunately have prenatal depression again this time round.
It sadly does very from area to area which is incredibly unfair, but there should be some sort of specialist service in your area that your midwife should be aware of. (Should say that we are in Scotland, so not sure if it’s different over the border)

I would ask to see a different GP or go to the walk in centre. I am really surprised the GP has suggested this and would complain as someone else said to practice manager. I worked in mental health services for five years and we saw many pregnant women who took psychotropic medication. It might be worth seeing if you can be referred to secondary mental health services by your midwife or another GP as often they have perinatal services available. I hope this can be resolved for you.

Wow, your GP is woefully out of date. Can you see another one at the practice? Otherwise badger for a more urgent appointment with perinatal mental health.

I would urge you to write to the practice manager repeating the advice you have been given, your current symptoms and asking she arranges an urgent appointment with a GP who is aware of current guidelines regarding depression in pregnancy.

Haven't RTFT, but please see a doctor asap! Sertraline is safe to take in pregnancy and whilst breastfeeding! I really don't want to upset you, but your current state of mental health sounds much more damaging than the potential risks of taking medication (which are absolutely tiny anyway). I was on a low dose of fluoxetine at the start and halved it. I had a horrendous few weeks when I came off it and switched to sertraline, but I'm feeling so much better now on 75mg. Take any offer of support for your mental health - I declined involvement of the perinatal mental health team initially, but was referred when I rang the hospital in tears around 19 weeks. I'm now 38 weeks and have been seeing a lovely mental health nurse, but won't actually be seeing a psychologist until the beginning of October. Get in the system ASAP! Also, please be honest with the medical professionals - I've had nothing but sympathy and support. Ask for extra appointments or home visits etc if you feel that would help - they'll be more than happy to accommodate this, but I hadn't realised it was possible to request this. Good luck

Your GP clearly doesn't know their arse from their elbow WRT mental health and pregnancy!!! I asked before pregnancy and was told that fluoxetine and sertraline are the only meds recommended in pregnancy. Have you told your GP how serious your symptoms are? Have you got a midwife yet? Tell her about your problems and need for medication. You will likely be referred to a consultant, and IME they're much more relaxed about medication. If this takes too long, please see a different GP for a second opinion. I am really angry on your behalf! Please also remember that the withdrawal symptoms of antidepressants can mimic the symptoms of the condition you were taking them for - it's a real head fuck, but how you're feeling might be due to withdrawal as much as to your symptoms returning! Good luck and feel free to PM me if you want a chat!