Antidepressants?

[xx200xx]

Has anyone took antidepressants while pregnant? What was the outcome?

I’ve been taking Mirtazapine full dose both times I’ve been pregnant .

No problems at all, just had to stay at the hospital for 72 hours after they were born because they wanted to monitor the heartbeat , but that was mostly out of precaution. Both my kids were absolutely fine and they still are , my eldest is 5 and is doing exceptionally well at school my other DC is 2. It’s more common than you think to be on antidepressants while pregnant . Of course you’ll have to mention it to your midwife and I don’t know if there’s some antidepressants that they don’t recommend but think most of them are fine ! Good luck ❤️

@LondonAnnie

I’ve been taking Mirtazapine full dose both times I’ve been pregnant .

No problems at all, just had to stay at the hospital for 72 hours after they were born because they wanted to monitor the heartbeat , but that was mostly out of precaution. Both my kids were absolutely fine and they still are , my eldest is 5 and is doing exceptionally well at school my other DC is 2. It’s more common than you think to be on antidepressants while pregnant . Of course you’ll have to mention it to your midwife and I don’t know if there’s some antidepressants that they don’t recommend but think most of them are fine ! Good luck ❤️

Thank you❤️😘

I'm on sertraline 😊 no professional seemed to have an issue with it x

Sertraline through both pregnancies and whilst breastfeeding.

Both kids fine.

Not an antidepressants but I took quetiapine in pregnancy with no ill effects. I had a 72h stay after she was born to check on poor neonatal adaption syndrome this happens to about 1 in 10 babies anyway but 3 in 10 is the mother has been taking some medications including antidepressants and other mental health meds.

Looking further ahead, you can also still take most meds whilst breastfeeding. I'm on quetiapine, mirtazapine and sertaline at high doses whilst breastfeeding. I'm about to switch the sertaline for escitalopram which is also OK. The only med I have been specifically told I would have to stop breastfeeding to take is lithium.

If your gp is unsure about prescribing in pregnancy insist that they consult with a psychiatrist, preferably one with a Perinatal specialism. Prior to coming off the pill to try to conceive my gp wrote to the cmht psychiatrist for advice about meds. They wrote back with their views essentially a mentally well mum/mum to be on meds is better for all than a mentally unwell mum/mum to be off meds and gave details of the local Perinatal specialist in case further information was needed.

I took citalopram 20mg throughout my pregnancy with no problems and continue to take it while exclusively breastfeeding.
When I was reading up on it all it seemed like there was a little evidence for an increased chance of respiratory distress in a few babies at birth but there hadn't been any clear, demonstrated links in any major studies. Do let your midwife know as they put it in your file so that they can be aware of any potential issues at the birth. They also kept a really good eye out for PND with me but I actually felt almost protected from it whilst taking citalopram.
I've always felt that any potential dangers to the baby are far far outweighed by the very real dangers of unmedicated depression. Healthy happy mum = healthy happy baby.