Anti depressants in pregnancy

[user392610]

Hi. I wasn't sure whether to post this in pregnancy or mental health.

Basically I am thinking of approaching my midwife/GP regarding anti depressants. I'm 26 weeks pregnant and I am getting worse. There's no let up. Everything is crushing and empty.

Very much a wanted pregnancy but I've lost all interest. I cry all the time (heavy ugly sobs for hours on end) and my anxiety is beyond the pale. I've become a terrible useless parent to my children.

I was on sertraline (I have a history of anxiety and depression. Especially post natally-this is #3) Has anyone else started medication during pregnancy. And if so did it help? What were the negatives.

I'm so desperate to not feel this way anymore.

Hey @user392610. Didn't want to read and run.

I'm sorry to hear you're feeling like this. It's really tough.

I suffer from anxiety and depression too and have been on Citalopram on and off for best part of 15 years.

When I became pregnant I agreed with my GP to wean off my meds as we rationalized that my mental health was in an ok place and being managed by counselling. She did make it very clear however that if things changed then I needed to talk to her again and go back on them.

She made a very good point that whilst there are some known side affects of Citalopram on babies (withdrawal after birth, occasional respiratory distress) she said the risk of Mum being in a bad way emotionally is greater.

I was told that if I was still on Citalopram at time of birth I would need to have baby in hospital (no home births or MLU) due to potential side effects on baby.

Whilst I don't know about Sertraline, or been in your situation it sounds like you are at a point you need to talk to your GP about your options of restarting medication. They will be able to talk through potential risks with you and come up with a plan. Do you have any prenatal mental health support groups near you? That might be worth a shot too.

Sending big hugs x

Sending you lots of love. I too had pnd with my first and currently 35 weeks with second. I was on sertraline two years ago and weaned off last summer successfully. Fell pregnant in autumn and by November could feel the anxiety increasing. Decided to ring the gp who then put me back on it and has since upped my dose. I’ve not had any issues. It has helped me no end. The anxiety and intrusive thoughts definitely seemed to cause issues from 16 weeks onwards so I’m putting a lot of it down to the pregnancy hormones. I know I could struggle again once the baby’s here but I’ve been honest and open with family/the perinatal team so will have help if needed. Are you under your local perinatal mental health team?

Feel free to message me for a chat x

Sertraline is generally the preferred choice during pregnancy - I was on it throughout my pregnancy but I definitely increased the dose up to the max at one point when I was struggling more. Sometimes GPs are woefully ignorant of the fact that it's fine in pregnancy - I've heard of people who were told to come off it when there's no need at all.

Thank you for your replies. I even got tearful reading them!
I have the midwife on Monday. So I'm going to talk about it then. And hopefully be put in touch with the perinatal MH team.
My GP is a bit of a nightmare. Which is why I've been putting off going to them. But I know I need to to get help.
Every day is so overwhelming. I don't know how I'll get to bedtime. (Which btw has become 7pm. Because I can't cope past then. My 12 year old goes to bed after me... how pathetic of me) not that I sleep. I got about 2 hours last night. My husband keeps saying to approach the doctors about sleeping pills. Like THATS the answer. I'm starting to think he's quite anti-MH medication.
I spend all day feeling hopeless and/or angry and of course exhausted.
Sorry to offload. I just don't really have anyone to listen.

I found the perinatal MH team to be pretty good, at least in terms of initially triaging you and getting you on the best meds. Wishing you the best!

Setter Aline is very widely prescribe one pregnancy and your pregnancy and perinatal period will be better for you, your new baby and the rest of your family if you are well. Talk to your MW, it will depend on your area as to whether the perinatal mh are involved are this point but don't let worry about access to meds or even worse judgement worry you. You are doing your best for everyone here by seeking help.

Sertraline!

Thank you. I will definitely try and get things rolling at my appt. thank you for being so kind xx

You're definitely doing the right thing getting help. I didn't and when DS was born good grief did it snowball. I was an absolute wreck. I had good help postpartum and 16 months on I still require medication.

Hi op, I'm currently on 20mg of citalopram. I tried to wean off when i was pregnant but it was just too hard, i was suicidal.

Anyway I'm feeling good, a little emotional due to pregnancy but definitely not depressed.

My doctor told me withdrawal in baby is unlikely, I'm not sure if that's because of the dose or the brand. Anyway if it does happen it's not the end of the world.

Hope you get sorted op

Hey, I know friends who have been in this position and know sertraline is fine during pregnancy. To be honest the risk of harm to the baby for anything at all is highest in the first trimester and you are well past that so I'm sure there won't be any adverse effects for the baby

I didn't in the end, but discussed it extensively. There are many medications which are suitable to take during pregnancy, and my antenatal team was very emphatic that my mental health was important and they could work out a plan for me that would benefit me and therefore benefit the baby. If they are at all snotty or put you off, for goodness sake ask to see someone else.

Thank you everyone. It's been a hard 24h. I can't stop crying. My poor DH. And the children bless them....this has to be upsetting them.
I just need to get to that MW appt tomorrow. But now I'm worried it'll be all rushed and I won't have chance to mention anything. Or I'll feel a nuisance doing so.
My DH has agreed that meds are probably the way forward. I just don't know what to expect from mw so will worry and stress all day about that. 😔 it's just so constant. And overwhelming.
Again thanks to you all being so nice to me. I must sound so useless and pathetic. I know millions of women cope fine with pregnancy and their hormones. I feel like such a let down xx

You are not useful or pathetic at all. It is part of your pregancy experience, same as morning sickness or heartburn. No one thinks badly of you.

MW should ask how you are feeling as part the appointment but if they don't then please do bring it up before you leave. I think the GP will be the one who can prescribe but MW team should still be able to advise and refer you to perinatal mental health team.

As you can see just from this thread, you are not alone in feeling like this. It doesn't make you a failure, or a bad Mum. Recognising you need to do something about it and acting on that is a brave thing to do so please be kind to yourself.

Good luck for tomorrow..let us know how it goes

**obviously meant to day useless! I have no doubt you are very useful! Damn caffeine not kicked in yet!

You poor thing to be feeling so low. You are doing absolutely the right thing by seeking help.

I am on sertraline as I’m TTC. Every doctor and midwife I’ve spoken to about this has not batted an eye. In fact, one very senior gynaecologist basically told me not to come off it, as it does me good and my well-being is critical to the well-being of a baby. That’s the same for you, too. If medication helps, then it is absolutely worth it. At 26 weeks, you’ll have time to ease yourself on to any medication and I would imagine, feel better rather quickly so you’re looking forward to the end of your pregnancy. Good luck, OP.

If you're worried about it being rushed and you not being together enough to being it up, you could write a big note and clip it to the front of your maternity notes so it's the first thing they'll see (either outside on the cover or just inside). I used to do this with stuff I was worried I would forget to mention and they never thought it was weird. Then you can know you've explained it properly in the note and not need to worry. Good luck!

Just to say: I spoke to my mw today. She was so lovely. She was so supportive and kind. I have been referred to the mental health team. And I have an appt with the GP to go back to meds. She assured me that the meds are completely safe. And that babies are not monitored for withdrawal anymore.
I feel a bit better. Although I know I have a long way to go.

Thank you again to everyone who commented here. For being so kind and for all the advice. X

Good luck op.I am 35 weeks and have been on 25 mg Sertaline for a couple of months. I've had it before and handled it fine but to be honest the side effects for the first two weeks were horrendous in pregnancy. Your body brand things down differently so beware of that. However, I feel good now and I'm really glad I went on it. Lockdown and a physically hard pregnancy basically ruined my mental well being. I was all over the place and felt really negative about the baby. Was genuinely terrified about my ability to cope.

I was also offered cbt very quickly and I'd recommend that.

Reaching out is always the right thing to do. You'll get through this xxxc