Antidepressants during pregnancy?

[Khelser30]

Hi everyone,

My first time posting here .
Just looking for some advice really from any other mums or mums to be regarding antidepressants during pregnancy. I have been on Sertraline for over a year now and when I found out I was pregnant I spoke to both my GP and Midwife and said that I would ideally like to reduce the dose I was on. I have managed to reduce it from 200mg to 150mg and within the next week or so I will be reducing it down to 100mg. It's been a long process tapering off them but I know it can't be done overnight.
Anyway what I wanted advice about is if anyone else has taken antidepressants during pregnancy and how baby was once born? The midwife has explained that the tablet I am taking is a common one used if women need to take antidepressants during pregnancy but she said that the baby would most likely need to be monitored once it is born as it may suffer from withdrawals. This is filling me with such guilt and anxiety because I don't want my baby being born and experience withdrawal symptoms

AIBU to suggest to GP and midwife that I would like to come off them altogether at least until the baby is born?

Thank you for reading!

I’d been on Sertraline for 2 years when pregnant with my first, though a little further along with tapering off. I was also on 200g but think I was down to 100g or 50g when I found out.

I was also advised that it would be fine to continue, but was able to stop completely by 12 weeks, just did it slowly. It was fine for me.

Honestly, I wouldn’t have hesitated to stay on it if I felt I needed to. I think trying to stop is a good idea, but don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Ultimately, you being well will be best for your baby!

Thanks so much for your reply. It’s difficult isn’t it because you don’t want to make the wrong decision. I don’t feel like I actually need to be on them anymore but I don’t know whether that’s because they are working and making me feel level headed. Its all very confusing. I think your advice about not worrying is crucial though so thank you

I took amitryptaline throughout pregnancy (for pain and sleep issues). I tried to come completely off but couldn't function, so found the lowest dose I could manage on which was 30/40mg. However I was signed off work early at 15 weeks with bad SPD, and doubt I would have coped on that dose if working full time.

There was no negative effect on baby, no withdrawal symptoms. She was very sleepy at first - but that could equally have been the epidural from c-section and or because she was slightly early.

If you plan on breastfeeding, your milk will have trace amounts of the antidepressant which would lessen any withdrawal (and still be safe for baby).

If you're unsure or need reassurance, ask to see a specialist to discussion medication. I was referred to specialist mental health midwife who was very knowledgeable about the use of antidepressants in pregnancy and spoke a lot of sense. Good luck!

Consult your doctor, I asked to reduce mine from 200, to 150 then finally 100 every other day. Doing it gradually made it unnoticeable and now I don’t take them. Wish me luck for the winter! I was told that it was fine but wanted to come off them as I didn’t feel the need to be on them anymore x