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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Newborn monitoring for my antidepressant use

18 replies

Noddle2015 · 27/02/2021 18:00

I am wondering if anyone can offer me some advice.
I am due to have my baby in a few days and I was told about baby needing monitoring for withdrawal effects due to me being on sertraline during pregnancy.

When I was first told by my midwife she told me this would be done for 24 hrs and if all went well me and baby could come home. However, today at my pre op I was was told it is 72 hrs?

Has anybody with similar circumstances be able to offer some advice?

I have a fear of staying over in hospitals and three days is slightly worrying me. Obviously I understand if needs be for the baby’s health but just wondering what is standard procedure.

Thank you in advance.

OP posts:

MooreLew · 27/02/2021 18:05

Was 72 hours for me. I thought that was kind of standard everywhere to be honest. Can make baby quite jittery and agitated. They might put you in a side room if baby is affected, I was. All the best OP x

nocoolnamesleft · 27/02/2021 18:07

Are you on a high dose? We mostly only observe 24 hours for just antidepressants,

Original poster

Noddle2015 · 27/02/2021 18:10

@MooreLew I thought as much. Am quite sad I wasn’t told at the beginning and was quite far into my pregnancy as I never truly thought about the effects I was told it was fine by doctors.
@nocoolnamesleft am on 150mg unfortunately, so relatively high.

OP posts:

nocoolnamesleft · 27/02/2021 18:11

Ah, that is a fair bit, so might be why.

Original poster

Noddle2015 · 27/02/2021 18:13

@MooreLew can I ask how baby was when born? We’re there obvious withdrawal affects for you?

OP posts:

MooreLew · 27/02/2021 18:20

@Noddle2015 I know, I only found out late in pregnancy too. I was shocked as I was told early on that sertraline was one of the 'safest' antidepressants. He was very hard to settle for a few days and had a bit of trouble feeding. By the time I left hospital things were much better. I was on 100mg so not too different to you.

Original poster

Noddle2015 · 27/02/2021 18:23

@MooreLew that’s exactly it, I can’t help but feel slightly mad that I wasn’t informed from the beginning as I would have much prepared to try and come off them. That’s what I’ve been worried about, but from your experience it’s settled me a little. Thank you very much for your help and advice

OP posts:

MooreLew · 27/02/2021 18:27

Honestly don't worry at all! I remember feeling so much guilt about it, but he was absolutely fine in the end! The symptoms were quite mild and i was so knackered and out of it myself after birth anyway. Mental health is so important and I know I would have been in a worse state off them, than on them.

Superscientist · 27/02/2021 20:49

I had to stay in for 72h after my baby was born for withdrawal effects due to my mood stabiliser. What I was told was that 1 in 10 babies can get poor neonatal adaption syndrome and this increases to 3 in 10 if the mum has taken some medications.
After she was born they came and checked her temperature, pulse, breathing rate etc every 4h to check she was OK. I asked if we could go home after 24h as I was also told it was a possibility but they said that it can take up to 3days to develop poor neonatal adaption syndrome. We scored 0 on all of the tests and we got to go home after 3 days.
We had a side room (it was in my birth plan due to risks to my mental health because of disturbed sleep) and being in for 3 days allowed us to get more support with breastfeeding and I got fed well whilst getting used to having a new baby.

I'm now breastfeeding whilst on quetiapine sertraline and mirtazapine with no issues of that is something you are considering

Superscientist · 27/02/2021 20:52

Just to add as well on the 7 women in my antenatal group 6 of us had a 72h stay after they were born for various different reasons.

MuckyPlucky · 27/02/2021 20:55

When I had both of my two (now age 9 & 6) I was on 200mg sertraline throughout and no one said anything about monitoring for withdrawal etc. I was turfed out within 12 hours both times. Both babies were drowsy, didn’t feed, etc. Not one person even made reference to my sertraline usage.

Original poster

Noddle2015 · 27/02/2021 21:00

@Superscientist thank you so much for your advice. It’s made my mind much more at ease knowing that it is quite common for babies to stay in for monitoring. I’ve had a bit of a hard time trying not to blame myself for all possible outcomes. I have another DS at home too so am anxious about leaving him for three days without seeing him as he is very much a mummy’s boy. But am accepting that this is the best thing for baby.

OP posts:

Original poster

Noddle2015 · 27/02/2021 21:02

@MuckyPlucky that is such a shame that happened, I guess it is really for the best monitoring especially with having more understanding and help.

OP posts:

alwaystiredalwaysgrumpy · 27/02/2021 21:12

I was on a different medication (citalapram) during pregnancy and was advised that baby may suffer withdrawal when he was born. He did have symptoms of this - breathing too quickly and very shaky, which manifested when he was about 12 hours old. He was taken to NICU for closer monitoring for 48 hours, which was scary but the nurses were wonderful, and one of the first things the paediatrician told me, was that this was not my fault, which is what I needed to hear. The staff were so reassuring and my boy was fine. They then kept us in hospital for a couple more days. It's not an ideal start but it was fine, and I know I couldn't have gotten through my pregnancy without the medication, so it's a bearable situation. I wish you so much luck with the rest of your pregnancy and the exciting arrival. You've got this!

Original poster

Noddle2015 · 27/02/2021 21:24

@alwaystiredalwaysgrumpy did the symptoms ease off relatively quick? I am so fearful of seeing my baby like that, I know their in safe hands but the thought is so daunting. Thank you so much for your kind words. It helps so much hearing other mums experiences.

OP posts:

Superscientist · 27/02/2021 21:59

For me, I went into pregnancy knowing I would have to stay on my medication or risk getting very poorly and that would be worse for the baby. I think that helped keep be calm when it came to the post birth checks. I was in a much better position to be a mother because of the medication. I tried to focus on this during the first few days.

alwaystiredalwaysgrumpy · 27/02/2021 22:05

@Noddle2015 I think the effects wore off within 24 hours of them presenting (my son is 3 so it's hard to remember exactly). It was horrid, but it soon becomes a memory. I think it's so good they keep you in for monitoring to be on the safe side, so try and see it as a positive.

Inkpaperstars · 28/02/2021 13:48

I am glad you have posted this OP because I am also on 150 Sertraline and no one has really mentioned monitoring so now I will follow that up with them.

I know it’s hard thinking about any possible complication caused by taking the drugs. I think though for most of us still on it at this point we know we had no choice.

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